Lilac is a light purple shade that sits between pink and purple on the color spectrum. Determining whether lilac is more pink or more purple depends on the specific shade of lilac and personal perception.
The Color Spectrum
The visible color spectrum ranges from red to violet. The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. Mixing primary colors together creates secondary colors like green, orange, and purple.
Purple sits between red and blue on the color wheel. Pink sits between red and white. Lilac is a light or pale shade of purple, meaning it has more white mixed in compared to richer or darker purple shades.
Comparing Lilac to Pink and Purple
Here is how lilac visually compares to pink and purple:
- Lilac has more blue, making it cooler toned than pink.
- Lilac is lighter and less saturated than richer purples.
- Lilac is less reddish than pink.
- Lilac is less blue than darker purples.
The exact hue of lilac can vary quite a bit. Some shades appear closer to a pale pink, while others appear closer to lavender purple. The table below shows some examples of lilac shades and how they compare on the spectrum:
| Lilac Shade | Closer to Pink or Purple? |
|---|---|
| Baby Pink Lilac | Very close to pink |
| Wisteria Lilac | In between pink and purple |
| French Lilac | Very close to purple |
As you can see, the lilac shade can sway the perception of being more pink or more purple. The undertones also affect this.
Undertones in Lilac
In addition to hue, undertone also impacts how pink or purple lilac appears:
- Cool undertones – More blue added makes lilac appear closer to purple. Cool lilacs may have lavender, periwinkle, or plum-purple undertones.
- Warm undertones – More yellow, peach, or red added makes lilac shift closer to pink. Warm lilacs may have hints of mauve, peach, or strawberry.
Most lilac shades have a blend of both cool and warm undertones. But the balance of those undertones changes the look significantly. Here are some examples:
| Lilac Shade | Undertone | More Pink or Purple? |
|---|---|---|
| Wisteria Lilac | Cool undertones | More purple |
| Blush Lilac | Warm undertones | More pink |
| Classic Lilac | Balanced cool and warm | In between |
Pay attention to the hints of color you see in a certain lilac. Cool blues and purples mean it leans more purple, while warm peaches and pinks mean it skews more pink.
How Light or Dark the Lilac Is
The lightness or darkness of a lilac shade also contributes to whether it appears more pink or more purple:
- Paler lilacs – Very light or pale lilacs with lots of white added are more likely to look pink.
- Medium lilacs – Lilacs with medium saturation tend to look the most evenly in between pink and purple.
- Darker lilacs – Deep, richer lilacs with less white added will skew more purple in appearance.
Here are some examples of how the depth of lilac impacts the pink or purple perception:
| Lilac Variety | Lightness/Darkness | More Pink or Purple? |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Lilac | Very light | More pink |
| Electric Lilac | Medium | In between |
| Rich Lilac | Dark | More purple |
The deeper the lilac color, the more purple it will appear. Very pale, light lilacs skew more pink.
Context Also Plays a Role
The context that a lilac is viewed in also sways whether it reads as more pink or more purple. Here are some examples:
- A lilac flower may appear more purple compared to a pink flower.
- A lilac paint swatch may look more pink next to a royal purple swatch.
- A lilac gemstone will look more purple against neutral metals or settings.
Even though it’s the same lilac color, the surrounding colors impact perception. Lilac may look more pink alongside colors on the purple end of the spectrum. It may look more purple alongside redder shades.
Cultural Color Associations
The cultural associations attached to lilac also influence whether it appears more pink or purple. Here are some examples:
- Lilac is traditionally a spring color associated with Easter and lilac flowers blooming, giving it a more purple connotation.
- In fashion, lilac is associated with soft femininity, linking it more closely to pink.
- New Age spirituality uses lilac candles and crystals to represent wisdom, intuition, and magic – concepts associated more with purple.
Depending on the context and culture, lilac takes on associations that make it skew either pink or purple in people’s minds.
Individual Perception
Ultimately, whether an individual perceives lilac as more pink or more purple comes down to their personal color vision and interpretation. Here are some factors that can cause differences:
- Age – Younger people may be more likely to associate lilac with pink.
- Gender – Women are socialized to see more nuances in pink tones.
- Culture – Western vs. Eastern cultures may interpret color hues differently.
- Language – Having more names for shades in a given language can affect perception.
- Colorblindness – Being unable to distinguish red and green hues makes lilac appear more blue.
Two people can look at the exact same lilac but come away with different impressions of whether it’s more pink or more purple.
Conclusion
Lilac’s position between pink and purple on the color spectrum means it takes on qualities of both. The specific hue, undertones, lightness, and context of a lilac shade sway it to appear more pink or more purple.
In most cases, lilac is right in between pink and purple – which is why it can never fully be one or the other. The beauty of lilac is its ability to capture the best aspects of both colors.