Puce
Mellow dusty pink with warm undertones
Puce is a mellow, unsaturated pink with warm, dusty undertones. Because it feels approachable and soft, this shade works well as a supporting background tone in cosmetic branding or feminine web layouts. Its hex code is #cc8899. For strong legibility, pair it with charcoal gray or black text, which provides enough contrast to keep the design feeling crisp rather than washed out.
About Puce
Dusty rose petals pressed between old book pages
What does puce mean?
Commonly linked with softness, nostalgia, and understated romance, puce often reads as a faded or weathered pink. Its low saturation and mid lightness give it a mellow, powdery quality, warm without heat and pink without brightness.
Where you see puce
- dried rose petals
- vintage velvet upholstery
- chewed bubble gum
- worn corduroy jackets
- flamingo feathers at dusk
What it works for
Puce works for wedding invitations, cosmetic packaging, cozy interior accents, and any design that wants warmth without loudness.
What colors go with puce?
Sage Green #9caf88The muted green cools puce's warmth while matching its soft, powdery saturation.Chocolate Brown #7b3f00Deep brown grounds puce, letting its pink glow read as richer and warmer.Cream #fffdd0Cream lightens the palette and keeps puce's dusty tone from feeling heavy.Slate Blue #6a5acdCool slate blue sits opposite puce's warmth, creating balance without harsh contrast.Olive #808000Earthy olive shares puce's muted character and adds an herbal edge.
Questions about Puce
What is the hex code for Puce?
Puce is #cc8899. In RGB that is rgb(204, 136, 153), in HSL hsl(345, 40%, 67%) and in CMYK 0%, 33%, 25%, 20%.
Is Puce readable on white or black?
Puce has a 2.78:1 contrast ratio on white and 7.54:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it is too faint for text and on black it works for body text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.