The closest widely recommended Benjamin Moore match for Sherwin-Williams Clary Sage (SW 6178, LRV 42) is October Mist 1495 (approx LRV 49). It keeps the same silvery gray-sage character and lands a few points lighter.
On the Behr side, the closest pick is Nature's Gift PPU10-15 (approx LRV 45), which sits nearest to Clary Sage in depth but reads a hair warmer.
Every delta here is small, but no brand publishes an official cross-brand equivalent. Confirm the match on your own wall before you commit to gallons.
Clary Sage is one of Sherwin-Williams' best loved muted sage greens, so it is no surprise that people want the same look in another brand. Maybe your painter only carries Benjamin Moore, maybe your local store stocks Behr, or maybe you already have a half gallon of something close and want to know how far off it really is. Whatever the reason, there is no official swap, only close approximations, and understanding how cross-brand paint matching works is the difference between a confident repaint and a costly surprise. Below are the three matches designers reach for most, each with a numeric LRV and undertone delta so you know exactly what you are trading, and a quick way to confirm any of them before you buy gallons.
The closest matches, side by side
| Color | Brand and code | Approx LRV | Undertone vs Clary Sage | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clary Sage (reference) approx hex #B2AF98 |
Sherwin-Williams SW 6178 | 42 | Baseline gray-sage green with a soft gray undertone | The color you are matching |
| October Mist approx hex #BDBEA9 |
Benjamin Moore 1495 | 49 | Same silvery gray-sage, a touch lighter and slightly greener (LRV +7) | Closest widely recommended Benjamin Moore match |
| Sea Haze approx hex #BEBFB0 |
Benjamin Moore 2137-50 | 48 | Grayer and slightly cooler than Clary Sage (LRV +6) | Best Benjamin Moore alternative if Clary Sage reads too green |
| Nature's Gift approx hex #B6B49C |
Behr PPU10-15 | 45 | Closest in depth, a hair warmer and more olive (LRV +3) | Closest Behr match |
Try it on your house
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LRV and hex values are approximate digital renderings and vary by monitor, sheen, and lighting. No brand publishes an official cross-brand equivalent, so treat these as the closest widely recommended matches, not exact swaps. A physical paint chip is the only authoritative reference.
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Why there is no exact Clary Sage equivalent
Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Behr each mix their greens with their own proprietary colorants and tint bases. Two colors can look like siblings on a chip and still reflect light a little differently, which is why the closest Benjamin Moore and Behr picks land a few points off Clary Sage on the LRV scale rather than dead on. Clary Sage sits at LRV 42, a touch deeper than the most-recommended sages from either brand, so the honest read is that the matches come in slightly lighter and airier.
Undertone drift is the other reason. Clary Sage carries a balanced gray-sage cast, while October Mist leans a shade greener and Behr's Nature's Gift leans a hair warmer and more olive. Under bright north light those gaps almost disappear; under warm evening bulbs they can show. That shift, called metamerism, is exactly why a scan-and-match at the paint counter gets you close but never guarantees an identical result across brands.
Two more variables can nudge the result even further from the numbers on this page. Sheen changes how much light bounces back, so the same green in a flat matte will read a shade deeper than the same green in an eggshell or satin, even though the LRV on paper is identical. Substrate matters too: raw drywall, a tinted primer, or an existing dark color underneath can all shift the first coat before it fully covers. Treat the LRV and undertone deltas below as a reliable starting point for shortlisting, not as a promise that the finished wall will land on an exact value.
When the Benjamin Moore match works (and when to stay Sherwin-Williams)
A close match is only useful if it fits the job in front of you. Here is how to decide which of the three picks makes sense, and when it is worth staying with the original Sherwin-Williams formula instead.
- Switch to October Mist 1495 if your painter or local store already stocks Benjamin Moore and you want the same relaxed silvery sage. The +7 LRV reads a touch brighter in low-light rooms, which many people actually prefer.
- Stay with Sherwin-Williams Clary Sage if you need the exact depth for a documented palette, a trim pairing, or an approved scheme. Read the full Clary Sage undertones and best rooms profile before you decide, since the original was chosen for a reason.
- Pick Sea Haze 2137-50 if Clary Sage reads slightly too green or too warm on your wall and you want a cooler, grayer cast in the same value range.
- Choose Behr Nature's Gift PPU10-15 for the closest depth on a budget, and lean on this step-by-step way to compare paint colors to line up chips side by side before you buy.
Related matches
If you are matching a whole sage-and-thyme palette, the same approach applies to its neighbors. See the closest picks for the Benjamin Moore equivalent of Dried Thyme, a deeper gray-green that often lands one shelf down from Clary Sage, and the softer, lighter Benjamin Moore equivalent of Soft Sage for trim, ceilings, or a quieter accent. Reading all three together makes it easier to keep undertones consistent across a room or a whole exterior, because a match that looks perfect in isolation can clash once it sits next to the greens beside it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Clary Sage?
The closest widely recommended Benjamin Moore match is October Mist 1495 (approx LRV 49 versus 42 for Clary Sage SW 6178). It keeps the same silvery gray-sage character and reads a few points lighter. Sea Haze 2137-50 is a grayer alternative when Clary Sage feels too warm. Neither is an official equivalent, since Benjamin Moore does not publish cross-brand conversions, so paint a sample of the match beside a Clary Sage sample before you commit.
Is there a Behr version of Clary Sage?
The closest Behr match is Nature's Gift PPU10-15 (approx LRV 45), which sits nearest to Clary Sage in depth but leans a hair warmer and more olive. It is not an official Behr equivalent. Behr and Sherwin-Williams use different colorants, so confirm it on your own wall.
Why are the LRV values different between Clary Sage and its matches?
Every brand mixes its greens with its own colorants and tint bases, so a close visual match rarely lands on the exact same light reflectance value. Clary Sage sits at LRV 42, a touch deeper than the most-recommended Benjamin Moore and Behr sages, which is why the matches come in a few points lighter.
How do I confirm a Clary Sage match before buying gallons?
Paint large samples of both colors side by side, in the same sheen you plan to use, and view them on the actual wall in morning and evening light while comparing against your trim and floor. A photo preview helps you shortlist quickly and rule out the obvious misses, but a physical chip and a sample pot on the wall are the only authoritative check before you commit to gallons.
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Trademark notice. Sherwin-Williams and Clary Sage, Benjamin Moore, and Behr are trademarks of their respective owners. FacadeColorizer is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by these companies. Brand and color names are used descriptively (nominative fair use). Hex and RGB values are approximate digital renderings; the only authoritative reference is a physical paint chip.
Trademarks mentioned (Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr, Caparol, Brillux, Sto, Alpina, Valspar, PPG, Glidden, Dulux, Crown Trade, Sandtex, Farrow & Ball, Johnstone's, Leyland) are property of their respective owners. FacadeColorizer is independent and not affiliated with any of them. Nominative fair use under Lanham Act §1125.
