Sherwin-Williams Evergreen FogvsSherwin-Williams Dried Thyme
Why this comparison: Dried Thyme is earthier; Evergreen Fog the more gray, more modern sage. Evergreen Fog and Dried Thyme are close but distinct (ΔE 8.7). Visible difference on the wall, especially in flat daylight.
Built from our full reviews of both colors — same measured data, same real-room photos. About the testing process →
The Numbers
Evergreen Fog is slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 21, 9-point delta).
What Each Color Really Is
A gray-green whose green has to be earned. On the chip it looks like a slightly dirty gray; on a full wall or a run of cabinet doors the sage finally shows up, because color builds as you add square footage. That gap between chip and wall is the single most common surprise with this color — people buy it expecting gray and get green, or buy it expecting green and get gray, depending entirely on how much of it they end up looking at.
At LRV 30 it is a genuine mid-tone with weight. Put it next to Sea Salt (SW 6204, LRV 63) and Evergreen Fog is more than twice as dark — Sea Salt is a tint you barely notice, Evergreen Fog is a color you commit to. Go the other way to Dried Thyme (SW 6186, LRV 21) and Evergreen Fog suddenly looks soft and half-neutral. It sits in the useful middle: dark enough that cabinets read as painted furniture, light enough that a whole room in it does not close in.
A dark, dusty green with the color turned almost all the way down. Most greens people love on cabinets are either clearly green (Basil SW 6194) or basically black-green (Pewter Green SW 6208). Dried Thyme sits between them and adds a lot of gray, which is exactly why it reads as calm instead of decorated. On a two-inch chip that gray takes over and the color looks like a warm charcoal. Painted across a full run of doors it turns clearly sage. This is why so many people are surprised by the sample pot: the chip undersold it.
At LRV 21 it is a genuinely dark color, and that number is the whole review. Put it next to Evergreen Fog SW 9130 at LRV 30 and the difference is not subtle — Evergreen Fog stays a soft light sage that behaves like a warm gray, while Dried Thyme is dark enough that the room reads it as a decision. Go the other way to Pewter Green SW 6208 at LRV 12 and Dried Thyme suddenly looks like the light, friendly option. It is the middle rung of the SW dark-green ladder, and for cabinets that middle rung is usually the right one.
Specs Side by Side
| Spec | Evergreen Fog | Dried Thyme |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams | Sherwin-Williams |
| SKU | SW 9130 | SW 6186 |
| Hex | #95978A | #7B8070 |
| RGB | 149, 151, 138 | 123, 128, 112 |
| LRV | 30 | 21 |
| Undertone | yellow / warm | green / cool |
| Family | Green | Green |
How Light Changes Them
Warm, generous light pulls the yellow-green forward. The sage looks alive and soft all day.
Cool light drains the warmth and leaves muddy gray. Test a big sample before committing.
2700K bulbs make it richer and cozier at night. Cool 4000K LEDs flatten it to gray.
At exterior scale the blue takes over and the green fades. Sample on the actual siding.
Strong sun brings out the yellow-green side and the color reads clearly sage all day.
Cool, weak daylight drains the green and leaves a heavy flat gray. Sample before you commit.
2700K lamps keep it green and warm; anything cooler turns it muddy. Change bulbs, not paint.
4000K strips wash the warmth out of the doors. Match them to your room bulbs at 2700K.
Both Colors in Real Rooms
Photos from our full reviews — the same rooms and captions, so you can judge each color where it actually lives, not on a chip.
When to Pick Which
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets · rooms with real daylight and warm wood · brass, bronze and aged-nickel hardware · anyone who wants color that still behaves like a neutral
Your room faces north and stays dim · your trim or cabinets are cream · you want obvious, unmistakable green · your woodwork is red-toned cherry
Kitchen cabinets and islands with wood floors and brass · bathroom vanities and built-ins · a study or dining room you want to feel enclosed · front doors, shutters, and houses set among trees
Your room faces north and has one small window · your cabinets or trim are cream · you want the walls to stay light and airy · your only lighting is cool 4000K LED
No comparison page can see your light. Upload one photo of your room and try both colors on the same walls, seconds apart.
Evergreen Fog vs Dried Thyme FAQ
Which is lighter, Evergreen Fog or Dried Thyme?
Evergreen Fog is lighter: LRV 30 vs 21. Evergreen Fog is slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 21, 9-point delta).
Which is warmer, Evergreen Fog or Dried Thyme?
Evergreen Fog is the warmer of the two (yellow / warm); Dried Thyme reads green / cool.
How similar are Evergreen Fog and Dried Thyme?
Evergreen Fog and Dried Thyme are close but distinct (ΔE 8.7). Visible difference on the wall, especially in flat daylight. The only reliable test is seeing both in your own room and light — a side-by-side on a screen or chip flattens the difference.
Can I use Evergreen Fog and Dried Thyme together in one house?
Yes, in separate rooms. They are close enough to feel related but different enough to notice, so give each its own room and connect them with a shared trim white. Avoid putting them on adjoining walls.
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