Chartreuse is famously known for being a distinct yellow-green color that sits between green and yellow on the color spectrum. But there has been some debate over whether chartreuse should actually be classified as a shade of green or as its own distinct color. In this article, we’ll examine the history of the chartreuse color, look at how it’s defined and categorized, and explore whether it’s ultimately considered a green color or not.
The Origins of Chartreuse
The name “chartreuse” originated from the French liqueur of the same name, which achieved its distinct yellow-green color from being aged in green bottles. The popular liqueur was first developed in the 18th century by Carthusian monks at the Charterhouse of Vauvert near Paris, who used a secret recipe of 130 medicinal and aromatic herbs and plants soaked in alcohol.
The original yellow-green color achieved by the liqueur in the unique green glass bottles became known as “chartreuse” and was adopted as the name of the proprietary color. Other alcoholic beverages would also adopt the name chartreuse for similar yellow-green colors.
By the early 19th century, the term chartreuse had expanded beyond just the liqueur to generally refer to any fabric or clothing dyed in that distinct yellow-green color. The earliest recorded use in English of “chartreuse” referring to the color itself dates back to 1848.
Interestingly, the original Carthusian recipe for the herbal liqueur was lost in the early 20th century when the monks were expelled from the Charterhouse of Vauvert. They recreated a similar version of the recipe, but some liqueur enthusiasts argue it lost some of its original distinct green-yellow color.
How Chartreuse is Defined
In the centuries since the original liqueur was first created, chartreuse has become codified as its own distinct color. It occupies a very narrow band of the visible spectrum right between green and yellow.
On the standard RGB color model used for digital and web colors, chartreuse is defined as:
- Hex Triplet: #7FFF00
- RGB: (127, 255, 0)
This indicates a color made from a medium amount of red, the full amount of green, and no blue. The high amount of green pushes it past yellow towards the green end of the spectrum.
On the CMYK color model used for print colors, chartreuse is defined as:
- CMYK: (50, 0, 100, 0)
This CMYK definition was specifically created by Pantone to refer to the proprietary Pantone color called “Pantone 13-0435 TPX”, which they named “Chartreuse” and intended to be evocative of the original liqueur.
So in both digital/web and print formats, chartreuse is technically defined with its own color codes that sit distinctly between green and yellow. This supports it being categorized as its own discrete color rather than a sub-shade of green or yellow.
Chartreuse in Color Classification Systems
Many major color classification systems and models categorize chartreuse as its own unique color instead of as a sub-set of green or yellow:
- Natural Color System – A stand-alone color called Chartreuse
- Munsell Color System – 10GY 8/8 or 5Y 8/8
- Pantone – 13-0435 TPX Chartreuse
- RAL – 100 80 60 Chartreuse
- NCS – 2050-G30Y
Some systems like Munsell assign dual coordinates, covering ranges from green-yellow to yellow-green. But none categorize it directly as just “green” or “yellow”.
Additionally, chartreuse has a dedicated Hex triplet code (#7FFF00) that puts it between web green (#00FF00) and web yellow (#FFFF00). This again indicates it is considered its own distinct color in digital formats.
Chartreuse in Crayola Brand Colors
Crayola, the popular brand of crayons and colored pencils, interestingly categorizes chartreuse in two different ways in their products:
- Web Chartreuse – In their large 112-count crayon box and colored pencil set, they include a “Web Chartreuse” (Hex #7FFF00). This is the mid-point chartreuse distinct from yellow and green.
- Green-Yellow – But in their smaller 96-count crayon box, the color is labeled “Green-Yellow”, implying a sub-set of green.
So Crayola classifications are inconsistent, further highlighting the debate around whether chartreuse is considered a green or not. Their “web chartreuse” indicates it as its own color, while the “green-yellow” implies a sub-green.
How Other Languages Define Chartreuse
Looking at other languages also gives mixed perspectives:
| Language | Literal Translation |
|---|---|
| French | Chartreuse |
| Spanish | Chartreuse |
| Italian | Chartreuse |
| German | Gelbgrün |
| Swedish | Grönstaff |
| Polish | Zółtozielony |
French, Spanish, and Italian adopted “chartreuse” directly as the name. German refers to it as “yellow-green”, Swedish as “green yellow”, and Polish as “yellow-green” – implying a sub-color.
So some languages support chartreuse as a distinct color, while others define it as a shade of green or yellow. The wide variation again highlights the debate.
Chartreuse in Popular Usage
Outside of technical specifications and classifications, most general and popular usage of “chartreuse” supports it being considered a green:
- It is commonly referred to as “chartreuse green” in casual usage.
- Online color pickers and selector tools categorize it under “greens”.
- Most image searches for “chartreuse color” return green swatches.
- In interior design and fashion, it’s described as a “green accent color”.
So while some technical color systems classify it independently, most mainstream descriptions and categorizations treat chartreuse as a “green” for simplicity and practicality.
Conclusion
In summary, there are good arguments on both sides of whether chartreuse is considered a green:
Arguments for chartreuse being its own color:
- Distinct technical specifications separate from green and yellow
- Many color classification systems give it a unique name
- Sits between green and yellow on the visible color spectrum
Arguments for it being a shade of green:
- Often referred to as “chartreuse green” in casual descriptions
- Treated as a green in mainstream color tools and searches
- Some technical specs define it as a yellow-green
- Simpler for general public to think of it as a green
There is no consensus, as the color community is split. But because the everyday public overwhelmingly treats chartreuse as a shade of green for simplicity, it’s reasonable to say it is generally considered a green in popular culture, despite some color experts viewing it as distinct. The debate continues, but practical use leans towards green.
