Wintermint Color Palette - A Breath of Fresh Air
Inspired by minty wintergreen breath fresheners, this color palette combines light blue, aqua, sage and teal for a crisp, refreshing look that feels like a breath of winter air. Blue and green are inherently “cool” colors, and when combined with pastel blue, the temperature goes from cool to downright chilly!
Shown in the collage, starting from upper left and moving clockwise: Zeela variation bracelet, Mini-Knot earrings, Viperscale 2.0 bracelet, Dragsoncale cuff and Chevron Earrings.
Wintermint has a quieter, more subdued feel than some of my other cool palettes, like Water. Here, the bright and bold aqua is tempered by the inclusion of muted shades like sage, which has a dusty, less saturated look than a true, vibrant green. Adding pastel blue further enhances this effect, blanketing the palette with a delicate winter frost. To amplify this frosty feel, I sometimes incorporate matte-finish rings, as seen in the outer light blue rings of the dragon scale cuff. This subtle touch adds depth and dimension to the frigid aesthetic.
The Harmony of Blue and Green
Blue and green are the dominant colors in nature. We see them in the sky, water, and foliage. This inherent connection to the natural world evokes feelings of peace, tranquility, and a sense of being grounded. Our brains are wired to find these colors calming because they signal a safe and abundant environment. Aqua and teal, both shades that bridge the gap between blue and green, therefore create a harmonious and soothing effect when combined.
In the chainmaille world, some of these shades can be hard to find (or hard to duplicate due to dye lots). For instance, sometimes teal leans more blue than green (I prefer to use a green-based teal for this palette). Sage can also vary, appearing more grey or more richly green depending on the source.
Because of the fluctuations between dye lots, Wintermint lends itself particularly well to mixes. If the piece allows, I like to combine as many shades as I can, adding extra rings to capture a specific mood. For example, adding more pastels, such as pastel yellow and seafoam, makes the palette even lighter and airier. Light grey can also achieve this, but I stay away from darker grays, as they tend to tip the mood from calm to melancholy. Adding heavier colors such as turquoise and peacock blue makes the palette bolder and more dramatic. Incorporating bright green adds a vibrant pop of energy, like a sprig of fresh mint amidst the snow.
- 3-color version: light blue, aqua, sage
- 5-color version: silver, light blue, aqua, sage teal
- extras: white, light grey, pastel yellow, seafoam, lime, light teal, turquoise, peacock blue
A Bit of Wintermint Trivia
Wintermint—aka wintergreen—is a subtle and complex minty flavor that is distinct from peppermint. This unique flavor comes from the leaves of Gaultheria procumbens, a plant that, despite its minty aroma, isn't a true mint at all! It doesn't belong to the Mentha genus, which includes peppermint and spearmint.
The key to wintergreen's flavor lies in methyl salicylate, an active ingredient in its leaves. This compound is synthesized and sold as oil of wintergreen, used in a variety of products, from candies to topical pain relievers. Gaultheria procumbens also goes by the name "teaberry," thanks to its small red berries that persist throughout the winter. These berries, along with the plant's evergreen leaves, provide a splash of color in the otherwise stark winter landscape.
Love these colors? Any item in my shop can be customized with the Wintermint colorway, or you can create your own masterpiece with a custom DIY kit from Blue Buddha Boutique in this palette. Contact me and let's bring your vision to life!
Follow this series on the dedicated Color Palette board on Pinterest.
