Soft Charcoal DE5935 is a gray paint color from Dunn-Edwards. It has a hex value of #838298, LRV 23 and a cool (violet) undertone. Its closest cross-brand match is Purple Haze from Benjamin Moore (nearly identical), with 49 more equivalents across other brands.
Ref. #838298 · DE5935
Soft Charcoal
23%LRV Value
Cool (Violet)Undertone
Soft Charcoal Technical Profile
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Soft Charcoal in Every Brand
The closest equivalent to Soft Charcoal in each major paint brand, ranked by how close the match reads. Always verify with a physical sample. How we calculate match accuracy →
Dunn-EdwardsSoft Charcoal
Nearly identical
Benjamin MoorePurple Haze
Purple Haze
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Gothic Purple
Behr
Nearly identical
Rapture
Valspar
Nearly identical
Soft Greyed Heather
PPG
Very similar
Garden Beauty
Vista Paint
Very similar
Violet Vibes
Hirshfield's
Very similar
Magic Cape
Dutch Boy
Very similar
Gentle Grape
Sherwin-Williams
Very similar
Magical Twilight
Kilz
Very similar
Brassica
Farrow & Ball
Visible difference
Wool .04
Colorhouse
Visible difference
Telegrey 2
RAL
Visible difference
Comparing these brands? Order peel-and-stick samples of your top matches — Samplize buy 8 peel-and-stick samples, get 2 free.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Soft Charcoal
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Soft Charcoal
#838298
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#9B85AD
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Soft Charcoal
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Soft Charcoal Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors
Other Dunn-Edwards colors close to Soft Charcoal.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Soft Charcoal — Frequently Asked Questions
What undertone does Soft Charcoal have?
Soft Charcoal by Dunn-Edwards has a cool (violet) undertone and sits in the gray color family. The undertone shifts with light — warmer under 2700K bulbs, cleaner and cooler under 4000K daylight — so sample Soft Charcoal in your own space before committing.
What colors match Soft Charcoal from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Soft Charcoal are Purple Haze by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match), Gothic Purple by Behr (a near-identical match), Rapture by Valspar (a near-identical match) — the best options for getting Soft Charcoal's look from a brand your local store carries. Confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Soft Charcoal?
Soft Charcoal has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 23.1, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white — that makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light.
Explore More with Soft Charcoal
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Understanding Paint Color Undertones
Why Soft Charcoal's cool (violet) undertone matters more than its surface color — and how to read undertones in any paint chip.