Wax Poetic reads as warm and grounded — strong in kitchens, family rooms, and any space where warmth is the dominant mood you're after. At LRV 80 it reflects plenty of light, which makes it well-suited for north-facing rooms and smaller spaces that benefit from extra brightness. Because it's a fully saturated example, it lands strongest as a single accent wall or large architectural feature rather than the dominant whole-room color. Skip it in rooms that already run warm or get strong afternoon sun, where it can tip into an overpowering glow.
Ref. #F1E6CC · DET651
Wax Poetic
80%LRV Value
Wax Poetic Technical Profile
What color is Dunn-Edwards Wax Poetic (DET651)? It's a light warm orange — hex #F1E6CC, LRV 80. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Wax Poetic is Benjamin Moore Simply Irresistible — a near-identical match on the wall, with PPG Rice Cake and Behr New Harvest Moon also close. With a Light Reflectance Value of 80, Wax Poetic reflects a generous amount of light, making it well-suited for north-facing rooms or smaller spaces that benefit from extra brightness. Pair it with warm whites like White Dove, white oak floors, and unlacquered brass or copper hardware. Terracotta tile or deep green plants complete an earthy warm palette. As a fully saturated example, it reads as a confident statement color — best deployed as a single accent wall or large architectural feature rather than a whole-room dominant. Oranges glow under 2700K warm bulbs, deepening into rich amber. Under 4000K cool light they can lose warmth and shift toward beige — particularly true for muted or dusty oranges. Saturated colors amplify lighting effects more than muted ones: warm bulbs deepen and enrich, cool daylight sharpens and slightly cools the same hex.
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Colors Similar to Wax Poetic
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Simply Irresistible
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Rice Cake
PPG
Nearly identical
New Harvest Moon
Behr
Nearly identical
Barely Dawn
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Warm Sunlight
Dutch Boy
Nearly identical
Fresh Zest
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Ivory Parchment
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Crafted White
Valspar
Nearly identical
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Wax Poetic
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Wax Poetic
#F1E6CC
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#AEBC76
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Wax Poetic
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Wax Poetic 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 Wax Poetic.
More orange colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the orange family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Wax Poetic — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Wax Poetic from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Wax Poetic are Simply Irresistible by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match), Rice Cake by PPG (a near-identical match), New Harvest Moon by Behr (a near-identical match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting Wax Poetic's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Wax Poetic?
Wax Poetic has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 79.7, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a light, reflective color that bounces plenty of light back into a room — well-suited to north-facing spaces, hallways, and smaller rooms that need to feel brighter. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with Wax Poetic
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.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for Wax Poetic depends on the room. Here's how to choose.