Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Bittersweet Molasses |
| SKU | 8005-12G |
| Hex | #534C4C |
| RGB | 83, 76, 76 |
| HSL | 0°, 4%, 31% |
| LRV | 8 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| 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.
Closest matches by brand
14 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. 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
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Rodda
C2 Paint
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.
Valspar Bittersweet Molasses Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Bittersweet Molasses 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 Valspar 8005-12G directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Bittersweet Molasses is Perle Noir (SW 9154) — very close at ΔE 3.3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Perle Noir swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
Behr's nearest match is Instant Classic (MQ1-34), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.32). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Bittersweet Molasses without repainting risk. See the full Instant Classic swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Bittersweet Molasses. The nearest is Willow (CC-542) at ΔE 3.66 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Willow swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Bittersweet Molasses is Black Walnut (PPG1014-7) — very close at ΔE 3.22, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Walnut swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
At Glidden, the closest color to Bittersweet Molasses is Grey Metal (00NN 10/000) — very close at ΔE 3.48, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 10 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Grey Metal swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Bittersweet Molasses is Orchid Black (443-7DB) — very close at ΔE 2.8, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Orchid Black swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Bittersweet Molasses. The nearest is Urbane Bronze (HGSW 3481) at ΔE 4.72 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Urbane Bronze swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Samson Bronze (DEB005), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Bittersweet Molasses without repainting risk. See the full Samson Bronze swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Bittersweet Molasses is Cut Cedar (JG-131) — very close at ΔE 2.85, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cut Cedar swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Tanner's Brown (NO. 255), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.37). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Bittersweet Molasses without repainting risk. See the full Tanner's Brown swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Evermore (0557), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.85). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Bittersweet Molasses without repainting risk. See the full Evermore swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
Rodda has no exact twin of Bittersweet Molasses. The nearest is Barn Rafter (R029) at ΔE 4.09 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Barn Rafter swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
C2 Paint's nearest match is Enamored (C2-853), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.41). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Bittersweet Molasses without repainting risk. See the full Enamored swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Bittersweet Molasses
Clare has no exact twin of Bittersweet Molasses. The nearest is Blackest (PNT100-DP-55) at ΔE 3.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blackest swatch →