From Health magazine
You know that strong odor you smell when you open a can of paint? It’s from chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which have been linked to cancer. The good news: More and more mass paint companies are developing low- and no-VOC paints.
But how do these healthier paints stack up? We asked Kelly LaPlante, principal designer and president of Los Angeles–based Kelly LaPlante Organic Interior Design Inc., to pick up her roller and report back on the top options.
$57 per gallon
Type: Low VOC
Coverage: Excellent. Aura provided rich, even color in just one coat. And it’s truly self-priming, so it’s a time-saver.
Odor: Very low
Dry time: 1 hour
Bottom line: This paint offers amazing coverage: “In some instances, you wouldn’t even need to use two coats,” LaPlante says. But it’s also the most expensive one we tested.
Next page: Benjamin Moore Natura
Comments (9)
It should be noted that of the tested paints, only Benjamin Moore Aura and Natura remain at stated VOC’s after tinting- Aura begins as a Less Than 50g/l (or, in case of the Matte finish, less than 100g/l), and regardless of the quantity of colorant added, the VOC content does not change. Natura begins with a Zero VOC base, and remains at Zero regardless of color made. All the others offer tint bases that are zero- or low-VOC BEFORE tinting. Each of the paints from California Paints, PPG, Sherwin-Williams, or Devoe use Universal tint colorants that contain varying degrees of VOC’s- so when a color is tinted, each drop of colorant adds VOC content. The one notable exception is the Fresh Aire Choice, which uses powdered pigment packages to achieve only a limited pallette.
Hi, Wanted you to know you can find all these great paints in any color on Benjamin Moore Aura and Benjamin Moore Natura
Are you kidding me??? People would really pay $57 a gallon for paint??????? Good Lord people are dumb. Good job by Benjamin Moore profiting from environmentalist wacko-s!
@Mike
Thats pretty much what normal paint cost in denmark.
So by your standard, all the danish population are dumb.
I think you folks missed the boat by not including Mythic Paint in your study. Mythic is Zero VOC (including the tint), and unlike every other paint in your survey contains ZERO toxins. It is made by a company that only makes this type of product (unlike BM) in a zero-carbon footprint facility and sells for $40-$45/gal.
Having it used several times, I can attest that it covers, dries and wears as well, or better, than any other paint on the market, health factors notwithstanding. Seriously, a re-do is in order here.
Really Dave,
More Myth-information is not what we need here. There is a great deal of confusion surrounding VOC’s, testing, claims, etc., much of which is encouraged by the manufacturers themselves. The bottom line is that when you consider cost per square foot, life of the coating, color fidelity, serviceability, integrity of the manufacturer, there is no comparison … Benjamin Moore Aura and Natura lead the industry.
I actually really wanted to test Mythic but the magazine was interested in having me test paints that are most available to people in all areas– which, apparently, Mythic is (was) not. Glad to hear that you’ve had a good experience with it and hope to see it more available soon.
Actually Rodney; you are wrong. I am not usually one to post here however being a Ben Moore, California, and Devoe dealer I think it is important to bring back this discussion.
First you are correct about the Colorant bring up the VOC content, however California has produced a new VOC free colorant, and the beautiful thing about it is that Dealers do not need a 10,000.00 tint machine to dispense it.
And Aura is not VOC free it is LOW VOC which is under 50 grams/litre.
I am sorry to stomp on your parade but I am tired of Ben Moore’s arrogance on these matters. Seeing that the Wonder Pure out performs Aura and Natura on third party scrub tests.
Hello Rodney,
Back to Freshaire, they have a VOC free DRY colorant so that first post is actually kinda misleading. FAC doesnt use VOC in colorant either and is lower than both of those, look at the MSDS sheets. Just letting you know