Yes proper length is 1/4 and of course I cut it before every burn. I take all the proper steps in my testing. I have not used cd 10's in this jar before I have used them in the apothecary jars and I had flickering in them as well with the cds. Idk if it could be that there three years old as well but I couldn't see a wick going bad. The flickering is on and off every few mins and then returns to being steady. I do not place my jars by fans, vents, or drafts so that is completely ruled out. Another problem is I moved from a one floor ranch and when I burned my candles I could smell them in the living room, hallway, kitchen, and dinning room. I now live in a two floor house and when I burn my candles in the living room I can only smell them going into the dining room, up the stairs, and on the second floor. Exactly why I decided to try the cds again because I thought maybe the ecos weren't throwing properly but could it be the way the air moves in my home I'm really getting thrown off since I moved here.