Evergreen Fog SW 9130 is the deeper, moodier sage of the two, with an LRV of 30 and a gray-greige cast that reads quiet and grounded.
October Mist 1495 is the lighter, airier sage, with an LRV of about 47 and a silvery quality that reads more clearly green.
The tiebreaker is not undertone, because both live in the same sage family. It is depth and how much light your room actually gets, so test both on a photo of your space before you commit.
In 2022, Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore both picked a soft sage green as their Color of the Year, within months of each other. Sherwin-Williams went with Evergreen Fog SW 9130, a deeper gray-green. Benjamin Moore went with October Mist 1495, a lighter silvery sage. They get called "the same color" constantly, and they are close, but the depth gap between them is real and visible on the wall. This is our side-by-side method for comparing paint colors applied to the two most compared sages of the decade.
The numbers side by side
| Attribute | Evergreen Fog SW 9130 | October Mist 1495 |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Sage green, gray-green | Sage green, silvery green |
| LRV | 30 | About 47 |
| Approximate hex | #95978A | #B4B7A6 |
| Undertone | Gray and greige cast, moodier | Silvery, reads more clearly green |
| Loves | Depth, drama, cozy grounding | Airiness, softness, subtle green |
| Watch out for | Going flat in a dim room | Washing out or reading gray in low light |
| Overall vibe | Quiet, grounded, moody | Light, silvery, airy |
Try it on your house
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LRV figures are the published values from each brand. Hex values are approximate digital renderings only, and screens vary; the authoritative reference is always a physical paint chip from the retailer.
Upload one photo, get a photorealistic render, then swap to October Mist in one click. Free, no signup.
Room by room, exposure by exposure
| Situation | Usual winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| North-facing room | October Mist | The higher LRV (47) keeps the room from closing in under cool, flat light. |
| Bright south room | Evergreen Fog | Strong sun washes out October Mist; Evergreen Fog holds its depth and looks richer. |
| Kitchen with white cabinets | October Mist | The silvery green reads cleanly against white and keeps the kitchen feeling open. |
| Bedroom | Evergreen Fog | The moodier LRV 30 reads calm and cocooning, which is what most bedrooms want. |
| Small or dim room | October Mist | Lighter sages bounce what little light exists; Evergreen Fog can feel heavy here. |
| Whole main floor, open plan | October Mist | Airier LRV 47 flows better across connected spaces and different exposures. |
The pattern is consistent: October Mist, with its higher LRV of about 47, wins wherever light is scarce or you want the room to feel open. Evergreen Fog, with its LRV of 30, wins wherever you want depth, drama, or a grounded mood. If your room gets a lot of natural light, Evergreen Fog will reward you. If it does not, October Mist is the safer, softer call. The 17-point LRV gap between them is not a rounding error, it is a visible difference you can check on your own wall.
When to choose Evergreen Fog
- Your room gets strong natural light for most of the day, so the LRV 30 reads rich instead of flat.
- You want a moody, grounded, cocooning feel, especially in a bedroom, den, dining room, or powder room.
- You like a sage with a gray and greige cast, where the green stays quiet and the gray does the talking.
- You are pairing it with warm wood, brass, or cream trim and you want depth as the contrast. For the full breakdown, see our Evergreen Fog undertones and best rooms guide.
When to choose October Mist
- Your room is small, dim, or north-facing, and you need the LRV 47 to keep the space from feeling heavy.
- You want a soft silvery sage that reads more clearly green, without the gray-greige weight of Evergreen Fog.
- You are painting a kitchen with white cabinets, or any space where an airy, open feel matters more than drama.
- You are doing an open-plan main floor where one color has to flow across several rooms and exposures. For more on this lighter sage, see our October Mist review and best rooms, and for a related lighter-vs-deeper matchup, our Sea Salt vs Comfort Gray duel.
Same wall, both sages, your actual light. Free render in about 30 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Evergreen Fog and October Mist?
The main difference is depth. Evergreen Fog SW 9130 has an LRV of 30 and a gray-greige cast, so it reads deeper and moodier. October Mist 1495 has an LRV of about 47 and a silvery quality, so it reads lighter and airier and more clearly green. Both are soft sages from the same 2022 Color of the Year moment, so the choice comes down to how much light your room gets and how much depth you want, not undertone.
Which is lighter, Evergreen Fog or October Mist?
October Mist is lighter. Its LRV is about 47, compared with 30 for Evergreen Fog. That 17-point gap is real and visible on the wall: October Mist bounces more light and feels airy, while Evergreen Fog absorbs more light and feels grounded. If your room is dim or small, October Mist is usually the safer pick.
Do Evergreen Fog and October Mist have the same undertones?
They are in the same sage-green family, but they lean differently. Evergreen Fog carries a gray and greige cast that pulls it moodier and quieter. October Mist has a silvery quality that lets the green read more clearly. Calling them identical is the common mistake; the depth and the gray-vs-silver lean are what separate them.
Can I see both colors on my own wall before I buy paint?
Yes. Upload one photo of your room to FacadeColorizer, get a photorealistic render in Evergreen Fog, then swap to October Mist in one click. You will see the 17-point LRV gap on your actual wall, in your actual light, which is the only honest way to settle this duel. The first HD render and three color variations are free.
1 HD render plus 3 free color variations. Start with Evergreen Fog, swap to October Mist in one click.
Trademark notice. Sherwin-Williams, Evergreen Fog, Benjamin Moore and October Mist 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 sample.
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.
