DORESshop Edison Bulbs, Vintage Edison Light Bulbs 40 Watt, T45, 110-130 Volts, E26/E27 Base Incandescent Dimmable Decorative Antique Filament Light Bulbs, Amber Glass, Warm White, 4 Pack

Aesthetics often matter as much as lumens, and the Edison bulbs from DORESshop strike a thoughtful balance between the two. I put a four-pack through several weeks of daily use across a kitchen island fixture, a living room floor lamp, and a hallway sconce to see where they shine (and where they don’t).

Design and build

These are T45 “teardrop” incandescent bulbs with a visible filament and amber glass—classic Edison styling that looks intentional whether the light is on or off. The E26/E27 medium base worked in every standard socket I tried, and the bulbs seated securely with no wobble. The amber coating is even, and the filament geometry is tidy and centered, which matters if your fixture leaves the bulb exposed.

Out of the box, the four bulbs arrived well-protected in individual compartments. The glass was free of bubbles or scratches, and the bases had clean threads with no burrs. All four in my set worked on first install. Given the nature of incandescent filaments, I still recommend testing them promptly after delivery in case you encounter a rare early failure.

Light quality and ambiance

This is where these bulbs justify their existence. Rated at 2700K, the amber glass nudges the perceived color even warmer, closer to candlelight at lower dim levels. The result is a gentle, cozy glow that flatters wood, softens shadows, and adds instant atmosphere to open fixtures and clear shades. The filament’s sparkle is a big part of the appeal—there’s a depth and point-source character that LED filaments often approximate, but rarely match, especially as you dim.

If you care about color quality, incandescent still sets a high bar. Skin tones look natural, and warm materials (leather, brass, walnut) take on a rich sheen. On a dimmer, the warmth deepens in a way that feels organic rather than simulated, which is why these excel in dining rooms, bedrooms, foyers, and living spaces where mood matters.

Brightness and use cases

At roughly 240 lumens per bulb, don’t expect task lighting. Think of each bulb as somewhere around a classic 25-watt incandescent in output, with a much warmer, more decorative presentation. In an island triple pendant, three of these provided a pleasant ambient layer for casual meals and conversation, but I wouldn’t chop vegetables by their light alone. In a bathroom sconce, I needed multiple bulbs before the mirror became truly usable. For a reading nook, I’d pair one of these with a secondary task light.

Ideal placements:
- Open pendants and chandeliers where the filament is visible
- Sconces and entry fixtures to create a welcoming tone
- Accent lamps on dimmers to layer warmth into a room

Less ideal:
- Work surfaces without supplemental lighting
- Single-bulb fixtures in large rooms where you expect general illumination

Dimming and compatibility

I tested the bulbs on two dimmers: a basic rotary TRIAC unit and a Lutron Maestro electronic dimmer. In both cases, dimming was smooth and consistent with no visible flicker and no audible buzz at typical ranges. The “low glow” at the bottom of the dimming curve is especially appealing—soft, amber, and stable rather than sputtery. If you’re sensitive to flicker, that stability is noticeable.

As with all incandescents, the bulbs draw real power even when dimmed; your savings come more from ambiance than efficiency. Still, from a compatibility standpoint, these behaved better than many LED Edison-style bulbs I’ve tried, which can exhibit stepping or shimmer on older dimmers.

Heat and efficiency

There’s no way around it: these are incandescent bulbs with an authentic filament, and they run hot. After an hour, the glass is not something you want to touch, and it will warm up enclosed shades. That heat is the byproduct of low efficacy—around 6 lumens per watt—so they’re not remotely efficient compared with LED filament bulbs. If energy savings or heat buildup are critical, LED “Edison” options exist that use a fraction of the power and stay cool, though they often compromise on the warmth and dim-to-amber character you get here.

I’d avoid very tight enclosures and fabric shades that sit close to the glass. They’ll work, but the heat can shorten bulb life and discolor materials over time.

Longevity

Incandescent bulbs are, by nature, shorter-lived than LEDs. The manufacturer suggests a decent lifespan for the category, and after several weeks of nightly use, mine show no signs of early failure or clouding. That said, expect to replace them periodically, especially if you frequently switch them on and off or if they’re installed in hot, enclosed fixtures. If you’re looking to “set and forget” for years, this isn’t the category for you.

Installation and fit

No surprises here. The medium base threads in easily, and the T45 profile fit well in fixtures designed for ST19-style bulbs too. The amber tint hides dust reasonably well, but because these are display bulbs, they’ll reward an occasional wipe with a microfiber cloth to keep the glass clear.

Value and who they’re for

Value depends on what you’re optimizing for:
- Aesthetic authenticity and warm dimming: Strong value. These do what LED lookalikes try to do, and the result is genuinely charming light.
- Brightness per dollar and efficiency: Weak value. You’re spending on decor, not lumens or long life.

If your fixture showcases the bulb and your goal is atmosphere, the Edison bulbs make a compelling case. In a bedroom or dining room, they can transform the feel of a space without changing anything else. In high-use, task-oriented areas, you’ll either supplement them or choose something brighter and more efficient.

Tips from testing

• Pair with a quality dimmer. You’ll unlock the best part of their character—low-level warmth with no shimmer.
• Use multiple bulbs for functional spaces. A three- or five-light fixture balances ambiance with usability.
• Give them breathing room. Open fixtures extend life and reduce heat buildup.
• Test on arrival. Incandescent filaments can be fragile; better to find a dud early if one slips through.

The bottom line

The Edison bulbs deliver exactly what they promise: an authentically vintage look with a comfortably warm glow and smooth dimming that flatters spaces rather than flooding them. They are not bright, and they are not efficient. They are, however, satisfying in a way that many LED facsimiles aren’t—especially when dimmed for evening use.

Recommendation: I recommend these bulbs for decorative and ambient applications where aesthetic warmth and filament character matter more than sheer brightness or efficiency. If you’re outfitting open fixtures in living areas, dining rooms, bedrooms, or entryways, they’re a pleasure to live with. If you need bright, cool-running, low-maintenance light for task work or all-day illumination, choose an LED alternative instead and reserve these for the moments and places where mood carries the day.