ALZO 27W Joyous Light® Full Spectrum CFL Light Bulb 5500K, 1300 Lumens, 120V

I often don't get as much sunlight as I should due to screwy sleep patterns. Full-spectrum lights are very helpful in this regard, so I can get "sunlight" even in the middle of the night. The 5500K ALZO bulbs are the closest thing I've found to actual sunlight. My basic test is just to compare the color to natural sunlight through a window on a sunny day. The color these bulbs put out is quite close to that. I've also tried some photographic tests and these bulbs produce the best results of various full-spectrum bulbs I've tried. Many bulbs have a yellow or blue tinge to them (the latter being especially annoying), but these do not! If you're not used to full-spectrum bulbs, you may find the light to look excessively cold and sterile at first. But colors look more vivid and natural once you're used to the pure white from this bulb, and regular bulbs seem a sickly yellow in comparison. I'd recommend giving it a couple weeks to get used to this bulb if you don't like the color at first; it may just grow on you! (I initially only put full-spectrum bulbs in a couple places, such as at my desk, since they did seem "too white," but I've started installing them elsewhere in my house now.) I have both 27W and 45W ALZO bulbs, and the color looks the same between the two. Keep in mind that even the 27W ones are quite long (6.5") and will not fit into many fixtures; the listed dimensions are accurate, so measure accordingly. The size is the one big downside with these bulbs; it'd be nice if ALZO had a smaller 20 - 23W version. These bulbs also seem to buzz more than some CFLs, and I found this to be more the case in certain sockets for some reason (possibly old wiring and not the bulbs.) Note that this is the single-unit version of ALZO 27W Compact Fluorescent - Case of 4 - Daylight Balanced 5500K - Pure White Light . The model numbers differ slightly, but the bulbs look physically identical, and the light output and color were indistinguishable when I put the two side by side. The "Joyous Light" rebranding sounds weird to me too; it's kind of a cheap-sounding name for such an awesome bulb! :) But these are the same good old ALZO bulbs, just with a different name. In short, these are about the best thing you'll find if you need artificial sunlight indoors for whatever reason: sleep problems, mood disorders, photography, or just a preference for pure white light.

My home office doesn't get much sunlight, and this bulb is perfect for brightening up the room when I'm working. It's efficient and the color of the light is perfect for making the room feel like it has a bright window (it's a bright white sun color, with no yellow in it). I could be imagining it, but I think the light improves my mood when I'm working inside all day, or on overcast days. There is a tiny bit of noise from the bulb. I'm usually fairly sensitive to that kind of noise, but this one doesn't bother me so far. If it gets worse I'll update this review, because that would really be an issue for me.

I've avoided buying CFL's because the quality of light is almost always terrible. For awhile, I've wanted to try a high CRI (color rendition index) CFL. The only problem is I have yet to see any for purchase locally. I finally decided to buy this one online as a trial (Free shipping is compelling.). The light is interesting. Two factors contribute to this. One, the color temperature is higher than a incandescent bulb. The 5500K temperature tends to make everything a bit bluer. Two, this CFL has a CRI of 91. While CRI is an old and imperfect metric, it roughly guides how true colors appear. These two factors combined make for seemingly whiter light -- something better understood once you become accustomed to light without that incandescent yellow glow. Florescent light still feels different -- more diffuse, brighter, and clinical; or something like that. I'm not sure if I like it. But, if you want to try a CFL that puts out a less weird cast of color, try this one. Also be aware, people with sensitive hearing and/or quiet rooms will be able to hear a soft hum from the bulb. The bulb is big, as well. Definitely, look at the drawing with dimensions (one of the product pictures above).

At first this was a shocking adjustment (pardon the pun) but after a few minutes, I got used to how brilliantly daylight bright it was and started to love it. The light is clean and clear, unlike the yellowish light you get off "soft-white" bulbs, and even though I keep overusing the word, it makes every room REALLY BRIGHT. As someone who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, this was FANTASTIC for me, because being in a room that's sort of dingy or dimly lit for hours at night is really depressing. These bulbs really help with that. Keep in mind, though, that these bulbs are physically quite a bit larger than regular light bulbs. They likely will poke out of your light fixtures. Think about that if it is an issue for you (it's not for me - I don't care as long as there's light). However it DOES mean that they will not be suitable for some lamps because of the shape of the lampshades.

This bulb finally popped new life and energy into my bedroom. I light my room with one of these as well as a warmer yellow CFL bulb. It creates a very balanced, warm yet energetic and clear light. It's quite bright and hurts to look at directly. Any bulb this bright will have a (very) quite buzz. I am an amateur recording engineer and any little buzz does not go unnoticed by me. However, it is very quiet; unnoticeable unless you put your ear to the bulb.

These products are great. Keep in mind they are only 5500k full spectrum. There are 5000k, 5500k, and 6500k ratings. This falls somewhere in the suns natural range (5700k). Make sure you get enough of them though. 1 bulb does not have the effect to help with SAD alone. You need to be a few feet from 4-5 of these. I sit under my ceiling fan with four of these and have one pointed towards me as I am doing homework or working from home. I spend 1 hour of under that and I am refreshed and ready to take on the day. Find a balance between the 5000k, 5500k, and 6500k variations though. I have no scientific evidence to prove it but that works for SAD.