I have also been using GG for many months now and haven't experienced the problems you've described UNTIL this week. I pulled out a fresh candle and started the burn. The flame was out of control. Since this is the first time this has happened after many months of burning this wax, it couldn't be the wick that is the problem. (I use CSN 12 for my 3" containers) So I pulled out another fresh candle to watch the burn from the very beginning. What is apparently happening (at least with my candles) is that there were many caverns underneath the very top thin layer of the candle (this batch must have cooled quicker than all of my other candles). When the melt pool began to form, it trickled into all of the little tunnels leaving no melt pool ... just a wick that is now exposed and is suddenly 1" long instead of 1/4" long. The flame height suddenly increased 4 times higher than it should have been. I think this would be true whether you use a CSN 5 or 12. I blew out the candles, trimmed the wick to 1/4" and relit them. Once the "caves" were full of wax so that a normal melt pool could form, the candle started burning properly. Just to make sure, I poured 4 GG containers as I usually do (same wicks, same containers)....except this time, I made sure they wouldn't cool too fast AND I poked relief holes and did a re-pour. I test burned them this morning and they are performing beautifully. Hopefully this is the answer because I really do love this wax and would hate to stop using it. :undecided