Simple and comforting, introducing 17 – 1230 Mocha Mousse – Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2025.
This rich, brown hue is warm, sensory, and elegant – reflecting “a global yearning for comfort”. After a succession of pandemic, war, and financial crisis, the shade invites us to slow down and breathe, while notes of latte and chocolate evoke indulgence and tenderness.
Pantone VC Laurie Pressman said the choice “extends further into our desire for comfort, and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can gift and share with others.”
Versatile and luxurious
We particularly love Pantone’s use of Mocha Mousse as a backdrop to a modern floral palette. Pairings of Viola, Rose Tan, and Cornflower Blue evoke a sense of luxury – premium brands like Liz Earle or Knoops, take note!
Speaking of Knoops, the chocolatey colour chimes with the indulgence of the Christmas season, with notes of comforting morning coffee, brown sugar and decadent cocoa.
The luxury of the shade is further highlighted in Pantone’s “Relaxed Elegance” palette – a home decor concept which puts wellness and personal comfort first.
The rise of sensory marketing
Sensory marketing pairs products with sensory experiences – sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste – to create deeper connections with customers. The approach has been a powerful tactic for many brands throughout 2024 in particular, turning products into aspirational experiences.
For example, skincare brand Rhode and shapewear giants Skims put food at the forefront of their campaigns – like lip gloss placed on a creamy latte or the Skims logo sculpted in butter.
By engaging the senses, sensory marketing helps customers envision how a product might feel, taste, or smell in their lives – making it not just something to buy, but something to desire and experience.
For the right brand, incorporating shades like Mocha Mousse can help connect to your audience by evoking feelings of warmth, comfort, and indulgence, creating a stronger emotional connection through colour.
Welcoming a moment to pause
Personally, we love Pantone’s colour choice this year. In a busy pre-Christmas season, it’s a welcomed reminder to stop, breathe, and prepare for hunkering down this Christmas, before the New Year fun begins!
At Ultimate, we’re all for helping brands reach their audiences in unique and exciting ways. Want to explore sensory marketing in your next campaign? Talk to us!
