Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant. It comes in a variety of colors including yellow, brown, and even green. However, the most common type of mustard is yellow mustard. This bright shade of yellow is familiar to most people and can be found in squeeze bottles at hot dog stands, burger joints, and on supermarket shelves. But what exactly is the name of this vibrant yellow color? There are a few ways we can describe the classic yellow of mustard.
Mustard Yellow
Perhaps the most obvious description for this color is simply “mustard yellow.” This refers directly to the condiment that exhibits this shade. When someone describes an object as mustard yellow, it immediately conjures images of the bright, tangy sauce. This is useful when wanting to create a strong association between the color and the food. For example, one might say a sweater is a mustard yellow to imply it perfectly matches the condiment.
School Bus Yellow
Mustard yellow is quite similar to the color of many school buses. This connection has led to the name “school bus yellow” being used at times to identify the shade. School buses in the United States have been painted a specific yellow color since 1939. While formulations have changed slightly, the color has remained very close to the bright yellow of mustard. Calling a color school bus yellow creates nostalgic feelings and helps connect it to childhood memories. This can be useful for marketing campaigns targeting families and youth.
Maize
Maize is a light shade of yellow that closely resembles the color of mustard. It is named after the corn plant and is the color of corn kernels. While not an exact match, maize is very similar to classic mustard yellow. It has the same vibrancy and intensity as the condiment. Describing something as maize can make it sound more natural or organic. This term may appeal to health-conscious consumers looking for bright colors from natural sources. The name maize can also add a touch of sophistication and elegance.
Gold (Metallic)
While mustard yellow is not a metallic color, some descriptions compare it to the shininess of gold. It has the same sunny, radiant appearance as some finishes of gold metal. Through this association, the color yellow mustard can also be described as gold. However, it is important to specify metallic or shiny gold, as non-metallic gold paint has more brown undertones. The name gold elicits luxury and richness. Using metallic gold to describe mustard yellow can make a product seem bright, flashy, and upscale.
Amber
Amber is often used interchangeably with gold to describe light yellow shades. It denotes the warm yellow-orange color of fossilized tree resin. Amber has a luminous quality similar to mustard yellow, though a bit darker and more orange. The amber color is associated with gemstones, clarity, and renewal. Describing something as amber rather than regular yellow can give it an exotic or mysterious appeal. It shares the same golden shine of mustard but with a more enigmatic vibe.
Chartreuse
Chartreuse is a vivid yellow-green color halfway between yellow and green. While less common than the names above, some may describe mustard yellow as chartreuse since they are near each other on the color wheel. Chartreuse has the same intensity and playfulness as mustard yellow. Traditionally a color associated with licorice, the name chartreuse suggests vivacity and youth. Describing mustard yellow as chartreuse can portray a sense of vitality and vigor.
Primary Yellow
From an artist’s perspective, the yellow used for mustard is close to the primary yellow on the color wheel. Primary yellow is one of the three pigment colors that can’t be mixed from other colors. While not an exact match, mustard contains high amounts of this pure, vibrant yellow. Calling mustard “primary yellow” can describe its strong, uncomplicated yellow hue. It connects the condiment to color theory and the fundamentals of painting.
Cadmium Yellow
Cadmium yellow is a family of bright, warm yellow pigments made with cadmium sulfide. The most common cadmium yellow shares an uncannily close resemblance to the yellow used in mustard. In fact, many acrylic paint manufacturers include a “mustard yellow” or “mustard cadmium yellow” in their ranges. Describing mustard color as cadmium yellow links it to painting and conjures imagery of artists’ palettes. It represents the satisfically closest match to the yellow condiment based on color mixing.
CIE Standard Illuminant D65
For a more scientific take, the yellow of mustard closely aligns with the CIE 1931 Standard Illuminant D65. This is a standard reference of daylight used in colorimetry with a temperature of approximately 6500K. While this naming convention is not very catchy, it quantitatively defines mustard yellow on the visible spectrum using chromaticity coordinates. Calling the mustard color “D65 yellow” directly connects it to standardized color spaces and measurements.
HEX #FFDB58
Using hexadecimal color codes offers an exact, objective specification for the yellow in mustard. The HEX value that most closely matches is #FFDB58. This hexadecimal number denotes the mix of 100% red, 85% green, and 35% blue that produces this color. Describing mustard yellow using its HEX code may appeal to designers, developers, or anyone who works with digital color management. It provides an unambiguous definition of the shade that can be implemented in code and design programs.
RGB 255, 219, 88
As an alternative to hexadecimal, the yellow mustard color can be described using the RGB color model. This represents the color by specifying levels of red, green, and blue light on a scale of 0-255. The RGB values closest to mustard yellow are R=255, G=219, B=88. This implies full red, moderate green, and low blue levels. RGB provides the same objective color specification as HEX but uses a more familiar 0-255 scale.
Pantone 123C
For physical commercial applications, mustard yellow is very close to Pantone 123C. This refers to the color standard used in printing, manufacturing, textiles, and more. While proprietary, Pantone colors provide consistent real-world reproduction across different materials and finishes. Describing mustard yellow as Pantone 123C connects it to product design and manufacturing. It gives the color a physical form used in commercial contexts.
CMYK 0, 16, 100, 0
The print industry often describes colors using the CMYK model, representing the levels of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink. The CMYK approximation of mustard yellow is C=0, M=16, Y=100, K=0. This means 0% cyan, 16% magenta, 100% yellow, and 0% black. Calling mustard “100% yellow in CMYK” links it to color mixing for print design and four-color process printing.
Psychedelic Yellow
With its intense brightness and boldness, mustard yellow has a slightly trippy, psychedelic vibe. Colors from the 1960s and 70s counterculture, like those seen in lava lamps and concert posters, were similar to the yellow used in mustard. Describing it as “psychedelic yellow” can be a clever, tongue-in-cheek way to characterize the color. This comparison taps into nostalgia for vintage design and retro style.
Conclusion
There are many creative ways to describe the specific yellow color we associate with mustard. While “mustard yellow” is the most straightforward, names like school bus yellow, amber, and psychedelic yellow create connections to memories, materials, color models, and more. The name chosen depends on the context and what feelings, eras, and mediums one wishes to evoke. Whether viewed objectively or subjectively, there are endless options for articulating just what shade of yellow mustard truly is. Ultimately, the vibrant, joyful color stands brightly on its own, instantly recognizable on everything from hot dogs to t-shirts as an icon of summer fun.
