Two mustards
The open colour-name list we use has both “Mustard Yellow” (#E1AD01) and plain “Mustard” (#CEB301). The first has more red, which gives it the warm, slightly brown look of the condiment. The second has less red, so its hue moves 6° towards green and it starts to look olive in dim light.
Mustard vs ochre vs goldenrod
| Name | HEX | Hue | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mustard Yellow | #E1AD01 | 46° | Warm, punchy yellow |
| Mustard | #CEB301 | 52° | Greener, more olive |
| goldenrod (CSS) | #DAA520 | 43° | Softer, slightly orange; the nearest CSS keyword |
| Ochre | #CC7722 | 30° | Earth pigment, clearly orange-brown |
Ochre is the one people confuse with mustard most. The pigment comes from iron-rich clay and ranges from yellow to red-brown; the named colour sits at the orange end, a full 16° warmer than mustard yellow. If it looks more like terracotta than like a condiment, call it ochre.
What goes with mustard yellow
Mustard#E1AD01
Navy#000080
Charcoal#343837
Teal#008080
Burgundy#900020
- Navy: a crisp, confident pair. Navy text on mustard scores 7.76:1.
- Charcoal grey: mustard is the go-to accent for grey sofas and grey websites. Mustard text on charcoal scores 5.76:1.
- Teal: retro and mid-century.
- Burgundy: autumnal and rich.
Questions
What is mustard yellow in RGB?
rgb(225, 173, 1).
Is mustard yellow the same as gold?
Close, but gold is brighter and cleaner. Compare on the gold page.