A Beginner’s Guide to Exotic Wood Colors: What Fades, What Lasts, and How to Preserve It

One of the biggest reasons woodworkers fall in love with exotic woods is color. Purpleheart actually turns purple. Padauk glows orange-red. Yellowheart looks like it came straight out of a cartoon. But one of the biggest surprises for new woodworkers is how these colors can change over time.

Some species darken naturally. Cherry is famous for it—it starts pinkish and deepens into a warm reddish brown. Walnut lightens slightly and becomes more golden. Purpleheart darkens to a rich eggplant color. Other woods shift dramatically under UV light. Padauk can go from bright orange to a deeper brownish red. Yellowheart can mellow depending on the finish applied.

The good news is you can preserve color longer with UV-protective finishes. Film finishes like lacquer, polyurethane, or even some high-quality oils include UV inhibitors that help slow color shifts. For cutting boards, which use food-safe oils, the color change is inevitable but still beautiful in its own way.

What matters most is choosing the right species for the right project. If you want a striking gift or a decorative piece, a highly saturated exotic wood is a showstopper. If you’re building something that will get years of daily use, expect some mellowing and embrace it as part of the story. Wood is a natural material—it ages just like we do, and that’s part of the charm.