Choosing the right magical ingredients can be difficult. If you have been stumped by the vast selection of ritual oils out there, you are not alone. Different types have different applications, and it is important to know how to use ritual oils and when.

Essential vs. Fragrance Oils

Pure oils either come from or are intended to represent a single ingredient. Essential oils are naturally occurring volatile compounds distilled from plant parts, like pine needles, twigs, and resin. Fragrance oils are synthetically derived compounds that are meant to smell the same as their natural counterparts. While some practitioners prefer essential oils because of their connection to nature, fragrance oils are helpful because they can recreate the scent of plants that do not yield essential oil -- like apples. Fragrance oils are also helpful if you need a magical ingredient that is unethical or difficult to obtain, like ambergris or civet musk.

Neither of these should be confused with flower essences. Flower or plant essences are made by allowing flowers or leaves to sit in water. This is diluted into more water, then preserved with alcohol. It is usually taken orally for emotional healing.

Different Types of Magical Oils

With all of that out of the way, what about magical oils? What is the difference between an oil used for anointing, and a condition oil? How do they compare to dressing oils? Here is a simple breakdown:

Hoodoo Oils

Hoodoo oils are a traditional element in the practice of Hoodoo, a form of African American folk magic that blends elements of West African, Native American, and European spiritual traditions. These oils are believed to possess a range of magical properties and are used in various ways in hoodoo practices.

They can be applied to the body as anointing oils, used to dress candles or other magical tools, added to floor washes or bathwater for spiritual cleansing, or used to anoint objects or spaces to attract or repel certain energies. Hoodoo oils are often made with a blend of herbs, roots, and essential oils that are traditionally associated with specific magical intentions, such as love, protection, prosperity, or curse-breaking. Practitioners of Hoodoo may use these oils in rituals, spells, or everyday life to manifest their desires, overcome challenges, and bring about positive change.

Van van oil is a traditional Hoodoo oil with a distinctive fragrance. It is used to clear away evil, attract luck, and bring success. If you wish to change bad luck to good, you can anoint a Change Your Luck amulet with a drop or two of Van van oil. Wear or carry this amulet every day until you notice an improvement in your fortunes.

Conjure Oils

Conjure oils are a type of magical oil used in the practices of Hoodoo and Conjure. While Hoodoo and Conjure share many similarities and are often used interchangeably, some practitioners distinguish between the two traditions based on their emphasis on working with spirits.

In Conjure, oils may be used to communicate with, honor, or evoke the aid of specific spirits or deities. Conjure oils may also be used to protect against malevolent spirits or influences or to bring about spiritual or physical healing. These oils are often made with specific herbs, roots, and essential oils that are associated with the intention of the spell or ritual.

Conjure oils may be used in a variety of ways, such as anointing the body or objects, dressing candles, adding to bathwater, or anointing altars or other ritual tools. In Conjure and Hoodoo practices, conjure oils are believed to hold powerful magical properties and can be used to manifest one's desires, overcome obstacles, and bring about positive change.

High John the Conqueror oil is a traditional oil used in Hoodoo and Conjure. It is used to enhance your personal power, improve your strength, and increase your confidence. It is particularly helpful for legal battles, overcoming obstacles, and protecting you or your home. Some people mix it with other Conjure oils to increase their potency.

One simple way to use High John the Conqueror oil is to spiritually cleanse your home with smoke, a floor wash, or your preferred method. Once your home is cleared, use a drop or two of High John the Conqueror oil to draw crosses on every entrance. This will keep negativity at bay and attract luck and positivity.

Anointing Oils

The term "anointing" is most commonly used by practitioners from all religious and spiritual backgrounds. These oils are usually used to anoint the body but can also be used for candles, crystals, altars, or magical tools. Anointing oils are believed to hold powerful energy and can help to create the desired atmosphere and focus the intention of the practitioner.

Anointing oils are used to set the energy and intention of a ritual space, such as an altar or sacred area. These oils can be used to purify and consecrate the space, to invite specific energies or deities, or create a specific atmosphere or mood.

A lot of Protection oils are anointing oils. They can be used to dress candles, protective charms, or doors, mirrors, and windows, but they are also often used to anoint the hands, feet, or brow. If you want to guard yourself against evil, place a drop of this oil on your palms and rub your hands together. As you do this, picture your entire body surrounded by a bubble of golden light.

Dressing Oils

Dressing oils, also known as conjure oils or hoodoo oils, are a type of magical oil used in candle magic and other magical practices. These oils are used to dress or anoint candles before using them in rituals, spells, or other forms of divination. The oils are believed to imbue the candle with specific energies or intentions, depending on the blend of herbs, roots, and essential oils used.

Prepping candles before any ritual is an important step to achieving your goals. Anointing or dressing a candle is actually quite simple. This important step helps create a link between your intentions and the candle and helps charge the candle with your energy.

Dressing oils can also be used to anoint other magical tools, such as crystals, amulets, or mojo bags, or to anoint the body as anointing oil. In many spiritual and magical traditions, dressing oils are believed to hold powerful energy and can help to amplify the intention of the practitioner and bring about desired results.

Condition Oils

Condition oils are used to tackle a specific problem or condition and are used in various spiritual and magical practices to improve physical and emotional well-being. These oils are often made with a blend of herbs, roots, and essential oils that correspond with specific physical or emotional conditions.

A practitioner might use a condition oil blended with lavender, bergamot, and frankincense to promote relaxation and stress relief, or an oil blended with eucalyptus, peppermint, and rosemary to support respiratory health. Condition oils can be used in a variety of ways to support physical and emotional well-being. They can be applied to the body as an anointing oil, added to bathwater, used in massage, or added to a diffuser to create a pleasant aroma and promote a sense of well-being. In many spiritual and magical traditions, condition oils are believed to hold powerful energy and can help to promote healing and balance on a physical and emotional level.

If you are suffering under a hex or crossed condition. You could take a Saint Michael Revocation candle and carve it with the symptoms of your hex, or your desire to be freed from it. Dress it with a few drops of Revocation oil, being sure to rub it into the carved words. Light the candle. As it burns, pray to have your crossed condition revoked.

Allow the candle to burn completely as long it is not left unattended. If you have to leave the candle alone, put out the flame, relight it when you return, and recite the prayer again. Once the candle is fully burned away, dispose of the remains far from your home.

Oils are invaluable magical tools, but not all of them are suitable for every purpose. By choosing the right oil for your ritual or spell, you will help create the most powerful outcome possible.