Olivine

HEX: #9AB973 | Modern Palette

On White
2.20:1
FAIL
On Black
9.56:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#9AB973
RGB
154, 185, 115
HSL
86°, 37% ,72%
CMYK
16.76, 0, 37.84, 27.45

About Olivine

Olivine (#9AB973) is a color with RGB(154, 185, 115) and HSL(86.57°, 37.84%, 72.55%). In design, it is suitable for Text, Logo, Print. Its complementary color is #9273B9, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #739AB9 and #B9739A. The name comes from olivine (French).

  • HEX: #9AB973
  • RGB: 154, 185, 115
  • HSL: 86.57°, 37.84%, 72.55%
  • Use case: Text, Logo, Print
  • Complementary color: #9273B9
  • Triadic colors: #739AB9, #B9739A
  • The name comes from olivine (French).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Olivine #9AB973 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

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

Color Harmonies

Olivine #9AB973 pairs with #9273B9 as its complementary color, and #739AB9 and #B9739A in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

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

OLIVINE
Analogous

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

OLIVINE
Triadic

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

OLIVINE
Split-Complementary

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

OLIVINE
Tetradic (Square)

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

OLIVINE
Monochromatic

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

OLIVINE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Olivine #9AB973 moves from dark #0D1109 tones through the base color to lighter #F3F6EE tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

OLIVINE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Style
Use case
Text Logo Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #B1B174
Protanopia #B6B673
Tritanopia #A3B2B2
Achromatopsia #AFAFAF

Frequently Asked Questions

Olivine (#9AB973) is a color with RGB(154, 185, 115) and HSL(86.57°, 37.84%, 72.55%).

#9AB973 pairs strongly with #9273B9 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#9AB973 is suitable for Text, Logo, Print.

The name Olivine is linked to olivine from French, meaning olive-like.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word olivine
Meaning olive-like
Language French
First Recorded Use Late 18th Century

History

The mineral olivine was named in 1790 by Abraham Gottlob Werner, a German geologist. He chose the name 'olivine' due to its characteristic olive-green color. The mineral itself has been known and used for centuries, particularly its gem-quality variety, peridot, which was historically referred to by various names, including 'topaz' or 'chrysolite' in ancient times. The scientific classification and naming of olivine as a distinct mineral came much later.

First Recorded Use

1790

Cultural Associations

While 'olivine' primarily refers to the mineral, its gem variety, peridot, has significant cultural history. Peridot was highly valued by ancient Egyptians, who called it the 'gem of the sun' and believed it protected against nightmares and evil spirits. It was often found on Topazios Island (now Zabargad Island) in the Red Sea. It has also been used in jewelry and religious artifacts throughout history, including some medieval church treasures. The color 'olivine' (the color itself, #9ab973) evokes nature, growth, and tranquility, often associated with military uniforms (olive drab) or natural landscapes.

Similar Named Colors
Pistachio #93C572 ΔE 4.31
Dollar Bill #85BB65 ΔE 4.52
Asparagus #87A96B ΔE 5.07
Bud Green #7BB661 ΔE 5.63

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #9AB973;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #9AB973;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #9AB973;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #9AB973,
        #B69FD3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #9AB973,
        #B69FD3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$olivine: #9AB973;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$olivine-r: 154;
$olivine-g: 185;
$olivine-b: 115;

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