The charm lamp is generally placed upon a table at which the person performs the magical operations. It is usually made of half a coconut shell, and contains ingredients which have analogous qualities of sweetness and attraction: a magnet, syrup, sugar, honey, perfume and flower petals, particularly those of jasmine and heliotrope.
The chief constituent of the lamp is a sheeps brain purchased with the idea in mind of purchasing the individual whom one wishes to charm. Olive oil is added, and the lamp is lighted in the name of Legba, who represents the heart, and Erzulie, who represents the sentiment of love. It is kept lighted until results are obtained.
Rigaud, M. (1914). The Secrets of Voodoo. City Light Books .pg.159
Actually a charm lamp can be employed much in the same way candle magick can, the advantage of the magick lamp is that you can use food coloring in the lamp oil, and you can add herbs, oils, stones, and other items that match your intent in the lamp.
You can use a store bought lamp, as well as fruits, and some vegetables, with the store bought oil lamp it can be reused many times.
Of course be sure to read up on oil lamp safety and use, as it is different from a candle and if used improperly will cause your house to fill with black soot.
The author is saying that the part of the lamp that makes this work is the sheep's brain, that in buying the brain of the sheep you are essentially buying the person's mind you are targeting.
Of course Raven I am sure it could be construed in this way to have sway over those who would be followers, so that they would see you as someone to follow. But I do not know if that was what the original author intended to show or not, perhaps he gained this knowledge with out truly knowing its subtle pun.
Oh I should have cleared that up, visual puns, or double entendres are common place in work like this, an item may represent one or several factors depending on the outlook of the person creating them.