The bright red color of love known as crimson originally was a dye produced from a scale insect, the Kermes vermilio. The brilliant color was worn only by wealthy individuals. Crimson now refers to a bright red with a tinge of blue. It's often considered the color of fresh blood (blood red). Dark crimson is close to maroon and is a warm color, along with red, orange and yellow. In nature, crimson is most often a ruby red color that occurs in birds, flowers and insects.