French Puce

HEX: #4E1609 | Modern Palette

On White
14.56:1
PASS
On Black
1.44:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#4E1609
RGB
78, 22, 9
HSL
11°, 88% ,30%
CMYK
0, 71.79, 88.46, 69.41

About French Puce

French Puce (#4E1609) is a color with RGB(78, 22, 9) and HSL(11.3°, 88.46%, 30.59%). It is commonly associated with Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #09414E, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #094E16 and #16094E. The name comes from puce (French).

  • HEX: #4E1609
  • RGB: 78, 22, 9
  • HSL: 11.3°, 88.46%, 30.59%
  • Mood: Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #09414E
  • Triadic colors: #094E16, #16094E
  • The name comes from puce (French).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.

Color Harmonies

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #4E1609 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #2E2E04
Protanopia #21210A
Tritanopia #4E1515
Achromatopsia #292929

Frequently Asked Questions

French Puce (#4E1609) is a color with RGB(78, 22, 9) and HSL(11.3°, 88.46%, 30.59%).

#4E1609 pairs strongly with #09414E as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#4E1609 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#4E1609 is commonly associated with Bold.

The name French Puce is linked to puce from French, meaning The color 'puce' literally translates to 'flea' in French, referring to the brownish-red stain left by a crushed flea..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word puce
Meaning The color 'puce' literally translates to 'flea' in French, referring to the brownish-red stain left by a crushed flea.
Language French
First Recorded Use 18th Century

History

The color's name emerged from the observation of the dark, reddish-brown hue of a crushed flea. Its initial popularity in the late 18th century was a direct result of royal endorsement, quickly becoming a fashionable shade for textiles and garments. While its peak popularity was during the Ancien Régime, 'puce' has periodically reappeared in fashion and design, often associated with vintage or historical aesthetics. The color's precise shade has varied over time, but it consistently denotes a deep, muted reddish-brown.

First Recorded Use

The term 'puce' gained significant popularity in France around 1775, reportedly after Marie Antoinette wore a dress of this color, prompting a widespread fashion trend.

Cultural Associations

The association with Marie Antoinette cemented 'puce' as a color of aristocratic fashion during the late 18th century. Its somewhat unusual and visceral origin story adds a layer of intrigue to its historical perception. Despite its humble etymology, the color has often been perceived as sophisticated and subtly rich.

Similar Named Colors
Black Bean #3D0C02 ΔE 4.63
Bulgarian Rose #480607 ΔE 5.10
Caput Mortuum #592720 ΔE 5.29
Seal Brown #59260B ΔE 6.52

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #4E1609;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #4E1609;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #4E1609;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #4E1609,
        #097993
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #4E1609,
        #097993
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$french-puce: #4E1609;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$french-puce-r: 78;
$french-puce-g: 22;
$french-puce-b: 9;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $french-puce;
    color: rgba($french-puce-r, $french-puce-g, $french-puce-b, 0.8);
}