Deep lavender is a rich, deep shade of purple that lies between traditional lavender and amethyst on the color wheel. It is considered a tone of lavender rather than a distinct color. Deep lavender gets its name from combining the light purple tones of lavender with deeper and darker purples. It incorporates more blue undertones than traditional lavender and results in a jewel-toned purple.
Deep lavender can vary in appearance depending on lighting and the colors surrounding it. In some settings it may appear more blue-based while in others it looks more red or pink toned. Overall though, deep lavender is characterized by its richness and intensity as a purple. It has more pigment and chroma than lavender.
Defining Deep Lavender
Deep lavender sits between hex colors #873260 and #682860 on the RGB color wheel. It is considered a shade of purple rather than strictly a lavender. Deep lavender incorporates more blue into the color mixture than lighter lavender tones. The result is a cooler, darker purple.
The exact specifications for deep lavender will vary across different color codes. In general, deep lavender is defined by having:
– A red value between 80-130
– A green value between 32-55
– A blue value between 96-128
It contains high amounts of blue compared to red and green, resulting in those cool purple undertones. Deep lavender may also be labelled as medium dark violet or dark lavender in some color coding schemes.
Comparing Deep Lavender to Other Colors
Here is how deep lavender fits in compared to other shades of purple and lavender:
| Color | Hex Code | RGB Code |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender | #B57EDC | R: 181 G: 126 B: 220 |
| Deep Lavender | #873260 | R: 135 G: 50 B: 96 |
| Amethyst | #9966CC | R: 153 G: 102 B: 204 |
| Purple | #800080 | R: 128 G: 0 B: 128 |
As you can see, deep lavender has more blue than traditional lavender based on the higher blue RGB values. It sits in between lavender and amethyst in depth of color. Deep lavender is a richer, more saturated purple than plain purple.
How Lighting Affects Deep Lavender
Deep lavender can take on slightly different shades depending on the lighting conditions. Here is how it changes:
– In daylight it appears more blue/purple toned.
– Under warm incandescent lighting, deep lavender takes on a redder/pinker tone.
– In a darkened room lit only by deep lavender objects, it can appear almost black.
Despite these subtle changes, deep lavender maintains its defining rich, jewel-like color in all lighting. It simply shifts slightly between cooler and warmer undertones.
Uses and Symbolism of Deep Lavender
Deep lavender has many uses, thanks to its attractive blend of purple tones. Here are some of the most common uses and color meanings associated with it:
– **Fashion** – Deep lavender is a popular fashion color for dresses, shirts, accessories, and shoes. It has an elegant, feminine look.
– **Interior Design** – Used in home decor, deep lavender creates a luxurious regal ambiance. It is commonly seen in bedroom paint and accent walls.
– **Weddings** – For weddings, deep lavender represents love and romance. It is popular in floral arrangements and bridesmaids dresses.
– **Spirituality** – In color theory, deep lavender encourages intuition and imagination. It also symbolizes wisdom, dignity, and grace.
– **Calming Effects** – Deep lavender has soothing, calming properties similar to lighter lavenders. It is used in spas, yoga studios, and meditation spaces.
– **Creativity** – The richness of deep lavender is thought to inspire creativity and originality. It stimulates right-brain thinking.
Deep Lavender Birth Flower and Birthstone
For astrology enthusiasts, deep lavender is associated with two different birth flower and birthstones.
The birth flower for the zodiac sign Pisces is the violet. This water sign’s flower perfectly captures the mystical, creative soul of Pisces. Deep lavender roses and violets are ideal for celebrating a Pisces birthday.
Deep lavender amethyst is the birthstone for February. Amethyst is a type of mineral quartz that naturally occurs in various shades of lavender and purple. The deep lavender variety is the most rare and precious. It’s a fitting birthstone for February, the month associated with romance and love.
Giving deep lavender flowers or jewelry is a thoughtful astrology-themed gift. It aligns with the recipient’s birth flower or birthstone color.
Growing Deep Lavender Plants
For gardeners interested in growing deep lavender plants, here are some tips:
– Choose a species like Spanish lavender or English lavender which have deep purple flower spikes. Avoid pale lavender varieties.
– Ensure the plants get full sun (at least 6 hours per day). This helps develop the richest flower color.
– Lavenders thrive in hot, dry climates. If you live in a humid environment, improve drainage using gravel, sand or slopes.
– Prune plants after the first bloom cycle ends mid-summer. This encourages a second bloom later in the season.
– Mix a little all-purpose fertilizer into the soil at planting time. Avoid over-fertilizing which can diminish flower color.
– Mulch around the base of plants to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.
With the right care, you can cultivate stunning deep lavender blooms in your own yard or garden pots.
Deep Lavender Dye
Deep lavender is a popular color for handmade textile dyeing. To dye fabrics a deep lavender shade, here are some techniques:
– Blend purple and blue liquid dyes in a 1:2 ratio. The more blue dye added, the deeper the purple.
– For natural dyeing, use blackberries, elderberries, purple cabbage, or hibiscus flowers. Simmer the plant matter and strain to extract a dye bath.
– To shift lavender dye to deeper tones, add navy dye or dip dyed items in black tea or iron water. This lowers the pH for more blue-purple shades.
– Set the dye with an acidic fixative like vinegar or citrus juice. Heat also helps the color bind to fibers and intensifies the tone.
It may take some experimentation with different plants and dye methods to achieve the perfect deep lavender textile color. But natural lavender dyes are a beautiful, eco-friendly option.
Deep Lavender Gemstones
In the world of colored gemstones, deep lavender is most famously represented by amethyst. This variety of quartz crystal naturally forms in shades ranging from light to dark lavender. The deepest purple amethyst gems with rich royal color are the most valuable.
Some other natural gemstones also occur in deep lavender shades, such as:
– Fluorite – This cubic crystal occasionally forms in deep purple hues.
– Kunzite – A pink silicate mineral that can display deep lavender tones.
– Lepidolite – A lilac-gray mica mineral type that has deep lavender colored varieties.
– Charoite – A rare mineral only found in Siberia that forms in swirling patterns of purple.
– Garnet – Certain garnet gems like rhodolite exhibit rich purplish-red colors similar to deep lavender.
While amethyst remains the most iconic, these other gems can also provide that regal deep lavender sparkle.
Deep Lavender Crystals
In the world of healing crystals, deep lavender amethyst and lepidolite are two of the go-to stones. They both connect to the higher Crown and Third Eye chakras and bring the following metaphysical properties:
– Stimulates imagination and intuition
– Enhances psychic abilities and lucid dreaming
– Promotes calm, relaxation, and stress relief
– Clears negative energy from the aura and environment
– Deepens wisdom, self-awareness, and peace of mind
Lepidolite contains additional lithium energy to lift mood and dissipate depression. Both lepidolite and amethyst make excellent meditation crystals. Holding the deep lavender stones close or wearing the color can align your mind and energy field with their attributes.
Deep Lavender in Art and Painting
Artists often layer ultramarine blue over crimson reds when painting deep lavender hues. Mixing primary colors of blue, red, and white also allows deep lavender shades to come through.
Some master paintings featuring deep lavender tones include:
– “Irises” by Vincent Van Gogh – The purple irises against the green background demonstrate lavender’s complementary color vibrancy.
– “The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh – The swirling night sky reflects deep blues and violets.
– “The Dance Class” by Edgar Degas – The tutus and bows contain soft lavender brushwork.
– “Portrait of Jeanne Hébuterne” by Amedeo Modigliani – Jeanne’s dress offers a saturated lavender color pop.
– “The Music Lesson” by Johannes Vermeer – A deep lavender curtain is rendered in precise detail using the color’s cool and warm tones.
Across painting genres and eras, artists mix colors with care to capture the richness and dimension of deep lavender.
Deep Lavender Meaning in Culture
Deep lavender has carried important cultural symbolism for centuries. Here are some of the most significant meanings:
– **Royalty** – The rarity of the Tyrian purple dye led it to be associated with royalty and nobility in medieval Europe. Deep lavender evokes a sense of luxury and majesty.
– **Femininity** – Traditionally considered a delicate, refined hue, lavender is strongly associated with feminine beauty. Brides wear the color to represent love and devotion.
– **Spirituality** – Deep lavender’s meditative qualities and resemblance to smokey quartz crystals link it to spiritual wisdom and mysticism across cultures.
– **LGBTQ+ Pride** – Lavender is considered the historical color associated with queer, specifically lesbian, women. The color spirit connects to individual expression and fluidity.
– **Imagination** – The balance of cool blue and fiery red makes lavender a color of magic, dreams, and fantasy. It sparks childlike creativity and wonder.
From royalty to the metaphysical, deep lavender has diverse and nuanced significance across cultures.
Deep Lavender in Fashion and Clothing
In the fashion world, deep lavender adds a pop of color and vibrancy to clothing and accessories:
– Deep lavender gowns with flower accents evoke fairy tale glamour for formal occasions.
– Casual tee shirts and hoodies feel youthful and playful in soft heathered deep lavender shades.
– Deep lavender skinny jeans pair stylishly with neutral beige and gray tones.
– Small deep lavender handbags are trendy statement pieces that complete daytime looks.
– Vibrant printed patterns containing deep lavender make bold style statements.
– Deep lavender shoes add subtle colorful flair to outfits without being overpowering.
From haute couture to everyday wardrobes, deep lavender flatters all skin tones and brings a rich presence to clothing.
Deep Lavender in Botany
In the plant world, deep lavender describes the pigmentation found in certain flowers and foliage:
– Lavandula – This flowering herb sports spikes of small purple blooms, especially the English lavender species.
– Violet – These five-petaled beauties include deep purple varieties like the African violet.
– Foxglove – The tall spires hold deep lavender bell flowers with speckled throats.
– Hydrangea – When grown in acidic soil, hydrangea blooms transform to vivid purplish-blue and lavender shades.
– Coleus – The velvety leaves on coleus plants display an array of brilliant colors including deep lavender.
– Orchids – Rare dark violet and lavender orchid hybrids have been cultivated through selective breeding.
– Daylily – These perennial flowers have a huge diversity of colors, with some blossoms reaching deep lavender hues.
Deep Lavender Pigments and Dyes
To create deep lavender colors, pigments that mix blue and red tones are used. Here are some common options:
– **Dioxazine Violet** – Modern synthetic organic pigment with very strong tinting strength and a blue/red violet tone.
– **Manganese Violet** – Inorganic pigment option, with medium tinting strength. It leans slightly more blue than many violets.
– **Ultramarine Violet** – Contains ultramarine particles combined with violet pigment. Displays a rich purple-blue tone.
– **Hematein** – A natural organic dye compound derived from the logwood tree. It can produce purple and lavender hues.
– **Murex or Tyrian Purple** – Made from mollusks, this rare dye has a red-purple tone associated with royalty in antiquity.
Deep Lavender in Interior Design
In home decor, deep lavender can create an environment of luxury, creativity, and tranquility. Here are some effective ways to work it into interior design:
– Paint walls or focal furniture in a dramatic deep lavender hue. It’s especially striking in bedrooms.
– Upholster chairs or headboards in rich textured fabric like velvet, linen, or corduroy.
– Display deep lavender hydrangeas, tulips, or lilacs in a vase to complement the color scheme.
– Choose metallic decor pieces like vases, frames, and table lamps in bronzed lavender.
– Accent with cultural symbols of lavender like candles, dried flowers, butterflies or moths.
– Place crystals like amethyst, fluorite, lepidolite, or charoite around as spiritual decor.
Blending the color through textures, nature, and lighting results in the most stunning and welcoming deep lavender rooms.
Deep Lavender in Cuisine
Believe it or not, deep lavender also has a place in the kitchen! Here are ways it is used in food and beverages:
– Powdered or dried edible lavender can add subtle floral flavor and purple specks in dishes like lemon bars, cookies, or bread.
– Infuse vinegar or honey with fresh lavender sprigs to incorporate the taste into sauces, marinades, and drinks.
– Lavender Earl Grey tea combines the deep lavender dried flowers with aromatic bergamot oil.
– Lavender buttercream frosting makes for a whimsical cake or cupcake topping.
– Lavender martinis rimmed with sugar create a sweet adult beverage.
– Lavender macarons have a delicate light purple color and soft floral essence.
The key is to use lavender sparingly to avoid an overpowering soapy taste. But a touch of lavender’s color and essence can enhance many recipes.
Deep Lavender in Literature
Deep lavender’s combination of mystery, femininity, and calm makes it fitting for whimsical literary descriptions:
– “The deep lavender twilight was thinning and turning to gray.” – L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
– “The lavender tulle gown gave the portrait such a soft, dreamy quality.” – Kate Quinn, The Rose Code
– “She longed for a place where the sky was always a deep lavender and soft gray, holding the magical moments between day and night.” – Erica Bauermeister, The Scent Keeper
– “The woods appeared before them, the trees adorned in their deep lavender cloaks as the first light crept over the leaves.” – Beatrice Blue, The Door to Enchantment
– “As they meditated in the garden, the deep lavender shades of the iris flowers carried their thoughts deeper inward.” – Sue Monk Kidd, The Book of Longings
Writers use descriptive color depictions like these to reflect lavender’s ability to spark imagination.
Deep Lavender in Marketing
Deep lavender is an intelligent color choice for branding and marketing:
– It catches consumer attention with its rich, unique tone.
– It balances femininity and luxury with imagination and spirituality.
– It resonates with women and the LGBTQ+ community.
– It feels luxe and indulgent when associated with skincare and cosmetics.
– It blends red’s passion and blue’s calm for balanced mental clarity.
– It stands out as an unexpected choice compared to popular blues and greens.
From product packaging to logos to websites, deep lavender used strategically can help brands connect with audiences and stand out in the marketplace.
