Color spec
| Brand | Rodda |
| Name | Essence |
| SKU | R117 |
| Hex | #837272 |
| RGB | 131, 114, 114 |
| HSL | 0°, 7%, 48% |
| LRV | 19 |
| Undertone | red / warm |
| Family | Gray |
About Rodda Essence
With an LRV of 19, Essence is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its red undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Essence works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches at every US brand
20 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Rodda colors
closest in the Rodda deckThe nearest shades to Essence within Rodda's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #837272 in HSL space. Pair Essence with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Rodda Essence Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Essence from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Rodda R117 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Essence
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Essence is Soulmate (SW 6270) — very close at ΔE 2.92, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Soulmate swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Essence
At Behr, the closest color to Essence is Smokey Claret (HDC-AC-28) — very close at ΔE 2.47, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smokey Claret swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Essence
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Essence is Cinnamon Slate (2113-40) — very close at ΔE 2.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cinnamon Slate swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Essence
Valspar's nearest match is Ashen Violet (T592), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.33). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17.6 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Essence without repainting risk. See the full Ashen Violet swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Essence
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Essence is Granite Boulder (PPG1015-6) — very close at ΔE 2.85, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 17 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Granite Boulder swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Essence
At Glidden, the closest color to Essence is Dark Raspberry Taupe (50RR 18/041) — very close at ΔE 2.9, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 19) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dark Raspberry Taupe swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Essence
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Essence. The nearest is Seal Gray (447-5DB) at ΔE 3.59 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 17 vs 19). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Seal Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Essence
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Essence is Alder Branch (HGSW 3423) — very close at ΔE 3.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Alder Branch swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Essence
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Essence is Cave of the Winds (DE6040) — very close at ΔE 2.65, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cave of the Winds swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Essence
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Elemental (JG-129), is clearly different (ΔE 6.36). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Elemental swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Essence
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Broccoli Brown (NO. 198), is clearly different (ΔE 10.12). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Broccoli Brown swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Essence
Diamond Vogel doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Emu (0549), is clearly different (ΔE 5.26). For an exact match, any Diamond Vogel retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Emu swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Essence
Hirshfield's doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Ocean Frigate (0555), is clearly different (ΔE 6.6). For an exact match, any Hirshfield's retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Ocean Frigate swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Essence
C2 Paint doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Hellebores (BD27), is clearly different (ΔE 6.81). For an exact match, any C2 Paint retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Hellebores swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Essence
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Field Trip (PNT100-DP-66), is clearly different (ΔE 14.82). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Field Trip swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Essence
Portola Paints doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Carmine (CARMINE), is clearly different (ΔE 7.01). For an exact match, any Portola Paints retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Carmine swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Essence
Annie Sloan doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Coco (COCO), is clearly different (ΔE 12.61). For an exact match, any Annie Sloan retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Coco swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Essence
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Hartford (BD-HF), is clearly different (ΔE 17.27). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Hartford swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Essence
Rust-Oleum doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Oat Latte (391446), is clearly different (ΔE 12.03). For an exact match, any Rust-Oleum retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Oat Latte swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Essence
Kompozit doesn't make a true equivalent of Essence — the nearest deck color, Ocean Frigate (0555), is clearly different (ΔE 6.6). For an exact match, any Kompozit retailer can custom-tint Rodda R117 instead. See the full Ocean Frigate swatch →