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Brands · answered by Fini

Is there a cheaper alternative to Edward Bulmer Clove?

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Quick answer

The closest cheaper match to Edward Bulmer Clove is Dulux Caramel Sand 3, which lands at a ΔE of just 2.2 from the original — close enough that most eyes won't tell them apart on the wall.

Yes, and the standout is Dulux Caramel Sand 3 at a measured ΔE of 2.2 from Edward Bulmer Clove. Anything under 2.5 is a very close match, so on a finished wall you'd struggle to pick the two apart side by side. Caramel Sand 3 has an LRV of 46.1, sitting right in that warm, grounded mid-tone territory that makes Clove such a useful, cosseting colour.

Worth understanding what you're paying for, mind. Edward Bulmer is a natural paint — plant-based, breathable, low-VOC, with a particular chalky depth that comes from the pigments and the linseed binder. If that eco credential and the slightly different light-handling matter to you, the original earns its price. But if you simply love the shade and want it for less, Caramel Sand 3 in Dulux's Heritage or trade range is the sensible call.

Two other options sit a little further off but are still respectable. Crown Reframed comes in at ΔE 3.7 with an LRV of 53.3, and COAT Cake Mix at ΔE 3.5 with an LRV of 53.1. Both read noticeably lighter than the original — that 7-point LRV jump is real and you'll feel it, especially in a north-facing room where Clove's warmth does a lot of work. They drift a touch towards a creamier, brighter caramel rather than the deeper clove note.

So my honest steer: if you want the truest like-for-like at a lower price, go Caramel Sand 3 — it's the only one of the three I'd call a genuine match. Reach for Reframed or Cake Mix only if you actually fancy a lighter, airier version and the budget is the priority.

Whatever you choose, buy a sample pot and paint two coats on a bit of lining paper, then move it round the room across the day. ΔE figures get you 95% of the way there, but the final 5% is always your own light.

Colours from the answer

LRV 48
Edward Bulmer
Clove
LRV 46.1
Dulux
Caramel Sand 3
LRV 53.3
Crown
Reframed
LRV 53.1
COAT
Cake Mix

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