# #685e5a

A color — neutral, minimal. Deterministic analysis from BrandSweets (no inference).

## Values

- Hex: `#685e5a`
- RGB: rgb(104, 94, 90)
- HSL: hsl(17, 7%, 38%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.49 0.014 43.1)
- Relative luminance: 0.1169
- Nearest named color: Blindfolded (#5a5e61, Δ 2.378) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blindfolded
- Moods: neutral, minimal
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/685e5a

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #786d68, #887c77, #978b87, #a59b97, #b3aba8, #c1bbb8, #d0cac8, #dedad9, #eceae9, #fafafa
- Shades (toward black): #5f5753, #554d4a, #4c4542, #413b39, #393432, #312d2b, #262321, #1e1b1a, #131111, #0b0a09

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #5a6468
- Analogous: #685a5d, #68655a
- Triadic: #5a685e, #5e5a68
- Split-complementary: #5a6865, #5a5d68
- Tetradic: #5d685a, #5a6468, #655a68

## Colors that go with #685e5a

Named partners (harmony on the OKLCH wheel, co-occurrence in curated palettes and brand systems, and the neutrals that carry it), best first:

- **Charcoal** #36454f [role, pool] — Charcoal is the text near-black that reads cleanly against #685e5a without the hard edge of pure #000. Seen in: Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), Canopy (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#canopy), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour), Stanley (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/stanley1913-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Champagne** #f7e7ce [pool] — 6 real palettes, including BrandSweets's brand system and Darkroom put Champagne beside #685e5a. Seen in: BrandSweets (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/brandsweets), Darkroom (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#darkroom), Coffee Bar (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#coffee-bar), Woodsmoke (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#woodsmoke). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/champagne
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #685e5a: 6 real palettes, including Clay & Linen and Desert Road, as the lead colour. Seen in: Clay & Linen (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#clay-and-linen), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road), Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Bakery (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#bakery). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #685e5a in 5 real palettes, including Gemstone and Codecademy's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Gemstone (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#gemstone), Codecademy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/codecademy-com), Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop), Five Guys (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/fiveguys-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #685e5a: 7 real palettes, including HP's brand system and Campus, as the accent. Seen in: HP (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hp-com), Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), The New York Times (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nytimes-com), Intel (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/intel-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Goldenrod** #daa520 [pool] — Goldenrod shows up next to #685e5a in 5 real palettes, including Mid-Century and Fireside, as the accent. Seen in: Mid-Century (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#mid-century), Fireside (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#fireside), Harvest (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#harvest), Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/goldenrod
- **Medium Sea Green** #3cb371 [pool] — Medium Sea Green is paired with #685e5a in 4 real palettes, including Undergrowth and Console Light, as the lead colour. Seen in: Undergrowth (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#undergrowth), Console Light (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical#console-light), Indigo SaaS (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/modern#indigo-saas), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/mediumseagreen
- **Midnight Blue** #191970 [pool] — 5 real palettes, including Lufthansa's brand system and Open House put Midnight Blue beside #685e5a, as the lead colour. Seen in: Lufthansa (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lufthansa-com), Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust), FIFA (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/fifa-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/midnightblue

## Contrast (WCAG 2.x, as text)

- On white (#ffffff): 6.29:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #5f5753 (7.06:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.34:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #7e726d (4.51:1); AA: background → #dbdbdb (4.54:1); AAA: text → #9e938f (7.02:1)

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Oatmeal** (neutral, warm, minimal, calm) — #6b5e4f, #a89a8a, #d9cfc1, #f8f5f0, #2c2622 — Four warm greys from bark to oat — the neutral palette that photographs well and never argues with a product shot. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/6b5e4f-a89a8a-d9cfc1-f8f5f0-2c2622 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/neutral

## Fonts for this mood

- neutral: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/neutral
- minimal: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/minimal

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/685e5a-a2beb0-c859d4-1f2d2b-eaf1e9?lock=0&style=vibrant
(Humans lock/regenerate in the tool; the URL is the state — read `lock=` back to see what they kept.)

## Connect an agent

Point any MCP client at the BrandSweets colors endpoint for the same engine:

- Endpoint: https://mcp.brandsweets.com/colors/mcp
- Tools: `analyze_color` (e.g. `analyze_color({ color: "#685e5a" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.