Oil Lamps used in Hoodoo work, to replace "candle magic". I prefer when working with clients to use lamps, unless working a specific work that calls for "figure" candles. The oil lamps can have added herbs, curios, and special oils in them, and add your photos and prayer papers into the oil as well. Sometimes I have a special lamp set for a certain spirit or saint that I am working with. Oil lamps are an inexpensive alternative to using figure candles as well. The can be colored lamps but these are more expensive, and if you are the type of worker that likes to use color association in your work, you can color the oils used in the lamp with natural dyes from the herbs you are working in your case. For instance, alkanet root will instantly change your oil to a red color, and sassafras root will change the oil to a yellowy orange color, eucalyptus will change it to an orange color, roses when activated will turn it pinkish, etc. If you can't spend the time and energy in using natural plants to dye them, you can melt down a little candle wax coloring to add to it, using food coloring if it's water based will not mix well, but the little jars of Wilton product food color is an oil base and works a little easier, but again more expensive and time consuming to track them down sometimes, depending on your area.
