Red is the matriarch and all the pink offspring emanate from her. Where red is an obvious "flush," pinks are a modest "blush." Pink is red with much of the passion removed, a watered-down red. Pink tempers passion with purity; it elicits an aura of innocent romance. It is the most gentle, blissful, and acquiescent of reds.

Pink is a garden of soft spring flowers. It is the flower of the species dianthus whose name in Old English is pynke. Synonymous with rose in the romance languages, variations of pink are given floral names like Wild Rose, Geranium Pink, Azalea Pink.

Light pink is innocence and babyhood Powder Pink, Heavenly Pink, Candy Pink. These connote sweetness, tenderness, intimacy, softness, and baby girls. Pinks such as Cloud Pink, Chalk Pink, Pearl, and Lotus are perceived as sweet-smelling and lighthearted. Muted, dusty roses and pinks, such as Sea Pink, Mauveglow, Blush, Silver Pink, Dusty Rose, and Ash Rose, are the most sophisticated and upscale tints in the pink family. Brighter, clearer pinks such as Strawberry Pink, Confetti, Bubblegum, Candy Pink, Aurora Pink, and Prism Pink are youthful and fun.

Sexy Pink
The brightest variations of the color, such as Shocking Pink, Hot Pink, Phlox Pink, and Fuchsia Pink, have much the same dynamism as vibrant reds. They are more aggressive and assertive than softer pinks, more blatantly sexual.

Portions reproduced from "COLORS FOR YOUR EVERY MOOD" with the permission of Leatrice Eiseman.