Olive is a unique shade of green that conjures up images of the Mediterranean region, olive trees, olive oil, and more. But pinning down exactly what shade of green olive is can be tricky. Like many colors, olive has a range of hues that all fall under the olive umbrella. Here’s a deep dive into the many shades of olive green.
The Origins of Olive as a Color Name
The name “olive” for the distinctive greenish-brown color dates back centuries. It comes from the olive fruit and its oil, which have been central to cultures around the Mediterranean since ancient times. The olive tree is native to the Mediterranean basin, and olive oil has been a dietary staple and important trade good throughout the region’s history.
The unique greenish, brownish hue of olives led to olive becoming established as a distinct color name in English by the early 17th century. Other languages also adopted olive as a color term around the same time. Olive drab and khaki, other colors originating from the natural world, also became common color names during this period.
So olive as a color is directly tied to the physical olives that have shaped Mediterranean culture, cuisine, and commerce for millennia. The greenish brown tones of olives give the color its name.
Olive Green vs. Olive Drab
Olive green and olive drab are closely related colors but have some key differences. Olive green is on the greener, brighter side of the olive color spectrum. It is often associated with green olives. Olive drab is duller, more subdued, and muddier. It’s closer to the brown side of olive colors.
Olive green is the tone most people picture when they think of olive as a color. It’s a medium green with strong yellow undertones. Olive drab has more grey and brown mixed in with the green and yellow undertones. It’s a flatter, less vibrant shade.
You might describe olive green as the color of green olives and olive oil. Olive drab is more like the color of crunchy brown olives or olive branches.
Here is a quick comparison of the two shades:
| Olive Green | Olive Drab |
|---|---|
| Brighter, more yellow-green | Duller, more grey-green |
| Color of green olives | Color of brown olives |
| Medium tone | Darker, more subdued tone |
Olive green is the more vibrant, lighter shade, while olive drab is darker and more muted. But they’re closely linked as variations of the olive color family.
Key Characteristics of Olive Greens
There are many shades that fall under the olive green umbrella. But in general, some key characteristics define the olive green color range:
– Green base mixed with brown and yellow undertones
– Medium to dark tone
– Often muted or subdued
– Dull, as opposed to bright
– Warm and earthy rather than cool
– Greyish or brownish hint
These qualities set olive greens apart from other green shades like forest green, lime green, or mint green. The brownish, yellowish tones mute the intensity of the green, making olive greens feel more neutral and natural. Their earthy, subdued look comes from the origins of the color in olives and the natural world.
Official Olive Green Colors
There are a few standardized olive green shades used in manufacturing, design, and other industries. Having specific olive green definitions creates consistency across different companies and materials. Here are some common official olive greens:
Olive (X11)
– Hex code: #808000
– RGB values: (128, 128, 0)
This shade is the web color olive defined in the X11 color system. It’s a medium, muted olive green. The equal parts of green and red create a warm, balanced tone.
Dark Olive Green
– Hex code: #556B2F
– RGB values: (85, 107, 47)
Dark olive green is another common web color. As the name suggests, it’s a richer, darker olive green than the standard X11 olive shade. It has more green and less yellow for a deeper look.
Olive Drab (#3)
– Hex code: #6B8E23
– RGB values: (107, 142, 35)
Olive drab #3 is one of many standardized olive drab colors used by militaries. This one is on the greener side of olive drab. It offers more vibrancy than the very subdued olive drab #7.
Having defined colors makes it easier for designers, manufacturers, and other professionals to refer to specific olive shades. When an exact color match is needed, these standardized olives provide consistency.
Olive Color Codes for Designers
If you’re a designer or artist working with olive green shades, it’s helpful to know some common olive RGB values and hex codes. Here is a quick reference for mixing up precise olive greens:
| Olive Green Name | Hex Code | RGB Values |
|---|---|---|
| Olive | #808000 | (128, 128, 0) |
| Dark Olive Green | #556B2F | (85, 107, 47) |
| Drab Olive Green | #6B8E23 | (107, 142, 35) |
| Light Olive | #A9A36C | (169, 163, 108) |
| Olive Drab #3 | #799861 | (121, 152, 97) |
With olive green color codes like these, you can reproduce specific shades for websites, graphic design, house paint, fabrics, and more. Keep this olive green color palette handy for your design projects.
Use of Olive Green
Thanks to its neutral, natural look, olive green fits right into many design schemes and color palettes. Here are some of the most common uses of olive green shades:
Camouflage and Military Uses
Olive drab has long been used for military uniforms and gear due to its muted, camouflaging look. The greenish hue blends into many natural landscapes. Olive greens are still a staple of military camo prints.
Outdoors and Garden
From garden furniture to park signs to hiking gear, olive green is an apt choice for the outdoors. The earthy, organic tone suits gardens, parks, forests, and other landscapes. Olive works well with stone, wood, plants, and other natural textures.
Vintage and Retro Looks
Olive green has a vintage appeal thanks to its use in military history. It fits well in retro, industrial, and salvage design schemes. Olive green invokes a heritage feel while still seeming fresh and neutral.
Eco-Friendly Designs
Natural, organic olive greens align with eco-conscious designs and lifestyles. Olive conjures up wholesomeness and speaks to sustainable living. It’s an earthy backdrop for green designs.
From decor to fashion to products, olive green is widely used as a versatile neutral shade. The natural, mellow look works in both traditional and modern contexts.
Olive Color Palettes and Schemes
Olive green pairs beautifully with other natural, warm-toned colors. It blends seamlessly into color schemes for interior design, graphic design, wardrobe planning, and more. Here are some pleasing color combinations with olive green:
Olive, Beige, and Terracotta
These timeless earth tones complement each other perfectly. Olive provides a subtle punch of color to the neutral beige and terracotta.
Olive, Sage Green, and Mustard
Different shades of green provide a visually intriguing but soothing look. Olive and sage greens are grounded by mustard yellow.
Olive, Brick Red, and Charcoal
This rich, dramatic palette offers depth and sophistication. The reds energize the muted olives and charcoal greys.
Olive, Cream, and Rust
The warm cream and rust amplify the earthiness of olive green. Olive ties the soft and bold shades together.
Olive, Navy, Metallic Gold
Navy blue contrasts nicely with olive’s vibrancy. Metallic gold adds contemporary edge to the classic palette.
Olive works in traditional schemes like beige and terracotta or in more vivid palettes like navy and gold. Its adaptability makes olive green endlessly useful in interiors, websites, packaging, clothing, DIY projects, and more.
Matching Different Shades of Olive
If you’re using multiple olive green elements in a space or outfit, make sure to coordinate the shades properly:
Compare undertones
Some olives lean yellow, others grey or brown. Match undertones so hues complement rather than clash.
Brighten with lighter olives
Add punch with light olive on furniture or as an accent color against darker olive walls or outfits.
Grade shades from light to dark
Use a gradient of light to dark olive for a cohesive look. This works well on walls.
Cluster like shades together
Group similar olive tones in a space for harmony. Avoid putting very different shades side by side.
Neutralize with beige and grey
If olives fight, add beige or grey tones to soften the transition between shades.
With strategic shade coordination, even very different olives can look pulled together. Mix and match within the olive palette for dynamic spaces.
Olive Skin Tone
In color analysis for clothing and makeup, olive complexions are a common seasonal coloring type. Olive skin has a yellowish-greenish tinge. This warm overtone sets olive complexions apart from peaches and cream or pink undertones:
Yellow/greenish cast
Olive skin skews towards yellow with some green overtones, unlike pinky peaches and cream.
Medium to dark tone
Olive complexions fall in the middle to darker range, unlike very fair peaches and cream.
Green and hazel eyes
Green, hazel, and brown eyes typically accompany olive skin, while blue and grey eyes are rare.
Black/brown or dark blond hair
Hair ranges from black to dark brown to dirty blond rather than platinum blond.
The greenish tinge comes through in veins and some facial areas. But olive skin still covers a wide range of depth from medium tan to very dark. Determining an exact olive skin shade can make finding flattering makeup and clothing easier.
Olive Makeup and Clothing Palettes
For those with olive undertones, it’s important to choose makeup, hair colors, and clothing that complement the complexion’s greenish tint:
Bronzes, golds, greens
Eyeshadow, lipstick, and blush in bronze, gold, olive, and mossy green tones flatter olive skin.
Avoid pinks and oranges
Pinky nudes, bright oranges, and cool reds tend to clash with olive.
Warm brights like emerald and ruby
Vibrant greens, true reds, and sapphire blues make olive skin glow.
Neutral beiges and browns
In clothing, olive works well with taupe, sand, camel, and caramel tones.
Platinum and ash over bleach blond
Low-contrast ashy blonds complement olive skin rather than bright golden blonds.
Identifying whether your skin leans olive helps narrow down colors that enhance your natural radiance. Olive offers a year-round glow.
Global Use of Olive as a Color Name
Olive became established as a color name in English in the early 1600s. But many other languages didn’t adopt olive as a color term until much later. Here is when olive entered the lexicon of various languages as a color name:
| Language | Olive Color Term Adopted |
|---|---|
| English | Early 1600s |
| Spanish | 1700s |
| French | 1830s |
| German | 1860s |
| Russian | 1850s |
| Italian | 1860s |
Although olive as a color originates in regions like Italy and Spain where romance languages are spoken, olive took longest to become an accepted color term in those languages. But by the late 1800s, olive had spread as a universal color name through trade and cultural exchange. Today olive green transcends cultures as an internationally recognized shade.
Conclusion
Olive encompasses an intriguing range of greenish-brownish hues. Despite some variations, all olive shades retain an earthy, natural, muted quality thanks to their origins in the olive plant itself. This versatility means olive transitions seamlessly from neutral backdrop to accent shade across nature, interior design, clothing, and visual arts.
So whether you’re choosing an exterior house color, picking a graphic design palette, or identifying your skin’s undertones, olive is a timeless choice full of global flair. With the right coordination of shades and tones, olive greens reflect harmony, growth, and organic wholesomeness. It’s no wonder olive has been a staple of artistry and style for centuries.