Earthmate EP2352AK 23-Watt Super Mini-Spiral CFL 2700K Bulb, 6 Pack

Comment: When I opened the sixpack box of CFL's, which was shipped by Amazon together with a paperback book in the same box (Free Super Saver shipping!), I discovered that two of the six 23 watt bulbs had arrived broken. I decided not to return the entire box but to consider it a lesson learned since I had only lost a few dollars on the deal. Order at your own risk.

Comment: I had originally bought this pack of 6 hoping to replace the recessed lighting in my new kitchen. Read prior reviews saying that 23 watt would not be bright enough, even though this is generating an equivalent of 100 watts. I have four recessed spots in kitchen, and after installing, figured they were way too bright. When I say TOO bright, they were eye-piercing bright. So I instead got the 15 watt ones instead, and they were more than enough. Unless, you are showcasing something inside or are using it outside on the patio, the 13 watt or 15 watt CFLS should be more than enough.

Comment: Bought these 23-Watt and also the 20-Watt for several fixtures. The compact size is perfect and they are very bright, which is what we needed. The 14-Watt bulbs you see at all the stores don't always provide enough light, but these do and they are the same size.

Also, the environmentally responsible packaging makes these a much better "green" purchase.

Comment: I am immediately very happy with the great quality of these fine Earthmate 23 Watt Super Mini-Spiral 2700K Bulbs. They are constructed very solidly, yet are compact, about the same size as a small regular older-tech 100 Watt bulb. I was able to immediately replace most of my overhead light-fixture bulbs with these. The 2700K color is so nice, I did so, after trying-out the first one. They seem cool to the touch as compared to my older bulbs -- I got burned a bit when un-screwing an older 60 Watt bulb that had been on for only ten minutes. Yet, these 23 Watt bulbs seem easily as bright as my older 100 Watt ones. But, at only 23 Watts, I am going to replace almost every older bulb with these Earthmate 23 Watt ones. They are bright, yet mellow yellow [slightly-golden creamy-white], good for about any indoor fixtures I have. I retain a newer-tech [hallogen] floodlamp for my reading chair -- but may change even that one for one of these CFL Super Mini-Spirals as they are so bright and cheerful. These are at once economical, ecological and cheerful. If they really last as long as claimed I will be a long-term user of them +++

Comment: If you are just starting out with CFL's this is a great bulb to begin with. It has that similar warm color to the traditional incandescent bulbs you are used to and not that "white" light that many other CFL's put out. So if you have never used CFL's before these are great and the one to start with. Plus they are the super mini size, not just compact, which means they are so small they fit in just about every light fixture. These are way better than any bulb I purchased from my local home improvement store, and less expensive too. My only complaint is that they are advertised as "instant on" but they are not. I guess it depends on what you mean by instant on. Yes, they do turn on right away, but they are very dim and don't get up to a descent brightness for at least 20 seconds, maybe 30. So keep that in mind as to where you use them, as this is a big negative if used in certain areas where you need immediate light. If they did turn on at full brightness right away I would have given this 5 stars. Still, it's well built, nice packaging, 1/4 the mercury in other CFL bulbs, very small super mini size, and the normal incandescent color you are used to - this is a fantastic bulb.