The U.S. had a rainbow of chemicals at their disposal. They were nicknamed according to the color on the barrels in which they were shipped. (Agent Orange didn't appear orange, though it looked like that to Pilsch.) ... The chemicals were produced by companies like DOW Chemical, Monsanto, and Hercules, Inc.

What color was Agent Orange?

The actual herbicide is colorless and could not be seen when being deployed. The name Agent Orange originates from the orange stripe that identified the barrels the substance was shipped in.

Was Agent Orange really orange?

More than 19 million gallons of various “rainbow” herbicide combinations were sprayed, but Agent Orange was the combination the U.S. military used most often. The name “Agent Orange” came from the orange identifying stripe used on the 55-gallon drums in which it was stored.