I quit using Aura for wall painting about 2 years ago though I will still use the Matte finish when people want a washable flat. I'm leaning away from BM these days and more towards SW. BM is more durable for sure, but the application and getting it to look good on the wall is becoming more of a challenge. My theory is that a paint manufacturer will introduce a paint line, people will love it for a while, and then they mess with the formula or cheapen it to increase profits or whatever and the painter will start to notice about 4-5 years down the road. Case in point, I just did a job last year painting trim where I painted an addition in 2008 with BM Aura semi-gloss and there was still a half gallon left from 2008 so I was able to compare the 2008 version with the 2016 version and it was a night and day difference. The 2008 version covered better and levelled out better. The whole reason I used to love Aura was for it's levelling out properties. Ahh well, at least SW is cheaper!

yikes. I just came across this after having an issue with Sherwin WIlliams Duration Interior in Matte. I purchased mine Fall 2020 and painted one room and I'm usually not bothered by paint smell, but I got lightheaded pretty quickly and donned a respirator. It took a solid month for the smells on the walls to dissipate. I used the same paint, but in another can for a second room. I painted that in May 2021. It is November 2021 and my room still smells and has been unlivable. I'm not sure if it was a bad batch or what– but I tried VOC Charcoal air purifiers, charcoal in bags, plants, vinegar, baking soda, washing the walls with Dawn, and enzyme odor eaters, candles, "cooking" the room with a space heater, lemon-water, carpet cleaning, etc. Nothing– it still smells. It's like I opened the can and never shut it. You can sit in there for 2 hours and will be light headed! I have had it sealed off with the window open for 6 mos! The other room seems OK however, but when I called SW they said, "Oh, wow, this has never happened before!" I went into SW and they said I needed a sales rep to come out and see it (or smell it). No one has called, stopped by or anything. I have repainted that room w/ one coat with Zissner BIN to seal the smell in but I need a second coat bc the smell is that bad. Zissner BIN smells better than SW! I will never buy from SW ever again, esp for the price. I had Benjamin Moore for the rest of the house and no issues. I have been painting for 25 years and never had this problem before.

I agree..I would like two coats.. It was the two coats of Loxon that confused me, rather than a primer(Loxon or otherwise) followed by a topcoat of Duration.. My SW store told me today that Loxon is a product for raw surfaces, not one already painted.. It is a confusing paint world.

For those of you with SW Extra White on your house - just confirming Extra White is a bright white, correct? I have seen a sample and it seems to have a bit of a blue/grey undertone. On a house exterior does it just read white? or white with slight grey/blue? Look forward to hearing back on this. Thank you!