2024 was the year of Peach Fuzz. Now Pantone has unveiled the hue to reign supreme in 2025: 17-1230 Mocha Mousse. The soft, warm, rich brown shade was chosen for its associations with comfort treats like coffee, cacao, and chocolate—a hue of delicious delights.
“Underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures, Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence,” comments Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace the aspirational and luxe. Infused with subtle elegance and earthy refinement, Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse presents a discrete and tasteful touch of glamor.”
But it’s not just delectable treats that make up Mocha Mousse. It’s also meant to honor an alignment with the natural world. “The everlasting search for harmony filters through into every aspect of our lives including our relationships, the work we do, our social connections and the natural environment that surrounds us,” says Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute. “With that in mind, for Pantone Color of the Year 2025, we look to a color that reaches into our desire for comfort and wellness, and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can give and share with others.”
To commemorate the color, Pantone paired up with brand partners like Joybird, Pura, Ipsy, Post-it, and Motorola to create limited-edition products. Pura will not only be tinting its diffuser in the shade but also releasing two inspired scentways in January 2025: Mocha Moments and Mocha Suede. Ipsy will be dropping an exclusive collection in May 2025, featuring a vegan leather makeup bag, brushes, and sponges.
DSM-Firmenich unveiled an eau de parfum and candle of the scent Mocha Mousse, which uses the ingredient Mocha Mousse Smell-The-Taste, a note developed exclusively with the company's proprietary technology that translates taste, emotions, and textures into fragrance. Developed with Master Perfumer Honorine Blanc, the creations also contain notes like cocoa bean, salted peanut, and vanilla bean. DSM-Firmenich developed seven further Mocha Mousse-inspired scents across various formats like body wash, hair mist, and fabric conditioner. Bioelements repackaged SKUs from its anti-acne line (Spot Defy, Daily Meds, Pore Thing, and Peel Breaker) in the hue. CND introduced two inspired shades to its Vinylux range (Running Latte and We Want Mauve), while PS...by Primark debuted a Lustre Lipstick in the hue.
For the beauty sector in particular, Pantone highlights the shade's flattering effect on a wide variety of skin tones, suitable for matte and sheen applications, while creating “the desire for unpretentious authentic beauty and minimalist looks tied to simplicity.”
Since Pantone's reveal, Cult Beauty has seen a large search increase for "mocha mousse makeup"(+74%), "chocolate nails" (+160%), and "brown lips" (+280%).
