Brinjal → Benjamin Moore
The closest Benjamin Moore matches for Farrow & Ball Brinjal (No.222), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Benjamin Moore Equivalent for Brinjal
If you love Farrow & Ball Brinjal but need a Benjamin Moore alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Benjamin Moore, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Brinjal (No.222) is a dark purple with deep aubergine undertones. A deep, dramatic aubergine-purple named for the Indian word for eggplant. F&B at its most daring. Rich, moody, and utterly distinctive. To find a good Benjamin Moore match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 4) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Brinjal and every Benjamin Moore color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
Honestly, Benjamin Moore does not have a perfect equivalent for Brinjal. The closest option is Heritage Red (HC-181) with a Delta E of 12, but at that distance the difference will be visible. Heritage Red is more red. No close BM match for this unique aubergine. If getting this exact color is critical, you may want to explore custom color matching at a Benjamin Moore store.
Benjamin Moore Matches for Brinjal
Heritage Red is more red. No close BM match for this unique aubergine.
| Brinjal | Heritage Red | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 4 | 7.85 |
| Hex | #4F2E39 | #7C3732 |
| Undertone | Deep Aubergine | Rich Heritage Red |
| Family | Purple | Red |
Undertone Comparison
Brinjal has deep aubergine undertones. A deep, dramatic aubergine-purple named for the Indian word for eggplant. F&B at its most daring. Rich, moody, and utterly distinctive.
Heritage Red has rich heritage red undertones. A deep, warm red from the Historical Collection. Not bright or fire-engine, but a sophisticated, muted brick red with brown undertones. The color of colonial front doors and historic shutters.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Brinjal's deep aubergine quality may read differently than Heritage Red's rich heritage red character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Brinjal in Your Room
In bright light, the deep purple-red character shows. In dim rooms, reads as a warm, sophisticated near-black with berry depth. Under candlelight, mysterious and atmospheric.
Heritage Red in Your Room
In bright light, the red is rich and warm. In dim rooms, it darkens into a moody burgundy-brown. Under warm light, the red glows. A classic, never-goes-out-of-style red.
LRV and Brightness
Brinjal has an LRV of 4, while Heritage Red has an LRV of 7.85. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Brinjal
Farrow & Ball recommends Brinjal for: dining room, accent wall, powder room, front door, study. With an LRV of 4, this is a dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Heritage Red is recommended for: front door, accent wall, dining room, exterior shutters, powder room. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Brinjal in Other Brands
Looking for Brinjal equivalents in other brands besides Benjamin Moore? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Benjamin Moore match for Brinjal (No.222) is Heritage Red (HC-181) with a Delta E of 12, which rates as a "no good match" match. Heritage Red is more red. No close BM match for this unique aubergine. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Brinjal is a Farrow & Ball color with deep aubergine undertones and an LRV of 4. Heritage Red is a Benjamin Moore color with rich heritage red undertones and an LRV of 7.85. With a Delta E of 12, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 12, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Benjamin Moore equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Benjamin Moore. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Benjamin Moore work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.