Imperial Savory Crimson

From the Latin imperialis, of the empire — applied to color since the medieval period for the hues reserved for sovereigns and empires: imperial purple of Tyrian dye, imperial yellow of Ming-dynasty porcelain. As a modifier, imperial implies saturation combined with the institutional weight of a color owned by a court. Sits in the bold-and-deep corner, alongside royal.

Latin satureia, peppery-Mediterranean-herb. As a color modifier, savory implies a peppery-Mediterranean-herb-and-Provençal-bouquet quality, the visual register of Provençal-bouquet-garni-and-summer-savory hand-peppery-Mediterranean-herb-and-Provençal-bouquet Provençal-bouquet-garni-and-summer-savory-and-herbes-de-Provence savory-and-peppery-Mediterranean-herb surfaces under Provençal-bouquet-garni-and-summer-savory-and-herbes-de-Provence Provençal-and-Tuscan-and-Catalan herb-garden-light. Sits at the modifier-and-flavor end of the grid, parallel to hyssop and lovage in usage.

From the Old Spanish cremesin, itself from the Arabic qirmiz — the kermes scale insect, dried and ground into a brilliant carmine dye prized in the medieval Mediterranean. For centuries the most expensive red on a draper's shelf, reserved for cardinals, kings, and the cloth that gave English the word crimson. Cooler than scarlet, deeper than rose; the color of pomegranate seeds and a serious occasion.