Dutch Licorice
4008-4C · #39444D · LRV 5.5 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Dutch Licorice5.5
- 2Waterloo13
- 3Charcoal Blue19
What Color Is Dutch Licorice, Really?
Dutch Licorice reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Valspar 4008-4C behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Dutch Licorice
Dutch Licorice earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
How Lighting Changes Dutch Licorice
At LRV 5.5, Dutch Licorice 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. Its blue 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Dutch Licorice are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Valspar 4008-4C directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Gale ForceSW 7605 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.1 | 6 | Color page → |
| Behr | BlackbirdECC-23-3 · Behr | 2.8 | 6 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Abyss2128-20 · Benjamin Moore | 4.4 | 6 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Midnight HourPPG1038-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.4 | 6 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Midnight HourPPG1038-7 · Glidden | 2.1 | 6 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | No LimitsHGSW 1461 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 3.8 | 6 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Dutch Licorice within Valspar's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #39444D in HSL space. Pair Dutch Licorice with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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