Valspar Bittersweet Molasses#534C4C · LRV 8
Bittersweet Molasses reads as a true neutral (no measurable hue) — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover the spec, what Valspar 8005-12G actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Bittersweet Molasses |
| SKU | 8005-12G |
| Hex | #534C4C |
| RGB | 83, 76, 76 |
| HSL | 0°, 4%, 31% |
| LRV | 8 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Valspar Bittersweet Molasses
At LRV 8, Bittersweet Molasses is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Bittersweet Molasses earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Kompozit alternative
The closest hex in the Kompozit deck, ranked by ΔE2000 (perceptual color difference). ΔE under 2 is indistinguishable to most eyes; under 5 is a very close visual match.
Closest matches at every US brand
9 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.
Behr
PPG / Glidden
Farrow & Ball
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Clare
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Bittersweet Molasses within Valspar'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 #534C4C in HSL space. Pair Bittersweet Molasses 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.