About Us

The Art of One Maker

Featured in Architectural Digest and Essence, LITOTES creates luxurious fragrances for thoughtful people who feel stretched by the demands of daily performance and need a meaningful way to pause.

Inspired by the restorative power of reading, each candle and luxury good is designed to turn an ordinary evening, bath, desk reset, or quiet hour into a reflective ritual. As the fragrance fills the room and a full pool of melted wax forms across the candle, LITOTES gives you a practical reason to stay still, quiet the outside world, read another chapter and return to yourself more grounded than when you began.

Pictured: Kari Herrera, founder of Litotes and career writer for over 10 years

The LITOTES Logo: Where Literature Meets Luxury

The LITOTES logo is a study in restraint and intention, centered on two typed L’s that embody the brand’s core values: Literature and Luxury. The first “L” represents literature, thoughtful reflection, and the quiet intimacy of reading. The second “L” signifies luxury, not as excess, but as refinement. This luxury is defined by careful craftsmanship and a timeless quality. Together, the paired L’s create a visual balance between intellect and indulgence, substance and beauty.

At the top of the logo rests a subtle yet meaningful detail: a bookmark ribbon, a visual cue that reinforces our literary foundation, an invitation to mark a favorite moment and return to it.

Our Approach to Fragrance Creation

Fragrance to help you return to yourself. Litotes is created for the person whose day asks them to perform, produce, respond, and keep going, even when what they really need is a quiet place to land.

Each fragrance is built like a well-written story: an opening that draws you in, a heart that invites you to stay, and a lasting impression that follows you after the flame is out. Rooted in literature and blended for real life, our candles are designed to become a practical signal to pause, soften the room, and give yourself permission to be present.

Light a New Story

Top Notes
Remember the first time you discovered a book you now cherish? That moment mirrors the first scent that greets you when lighting a Litotes candle. Our top notes are thoughtfully chosen to evoke the gentle beauty of our favorite mellow florals.
Middle Notes
This is the heart of the story—the turning point, the page that keeps you reading long into the night. Middle notes are the most prominent aromas in each Litotes candle, inviting you to slow down, stay in the moment, and let the day loosen its grip.
Base Notes
Long after the first spark, grounding woods, soft musk, amber, vanilla, or spice leave a quiet trace behind. The result is a room that feels calmer, warmer, and more like your own.
Every Litotes fragrance is hand-blended and poured with the belief that rest does not have to be extravagant to feel luxurious. Sometimes, it begins with a flame, a room, and a story worth staying with.
Find the fragrance for your next chapter.

Three Collections

Litotes offers a curated selection of taper candles, car diffusers, traditional candles, and elegant candle accessories. Our traditional candles are known as The Classics, a signature line divided into three distinct collections: The Authors, The Academics, and The Library.

The Authors

Peony Morrison
Breathe in the beautiful blooms of peonies, accented with youthful bergamot and the airy freshness of dandelions.
Shop Peony Morrison
Flora Neale Hurston
Enjoy the expected romance of a rose, married it to the complex, deep aromas of wood and musk. The result is a modern take on the traditional
Shop Flora Neale Hurston
Langston's Library
Our best-seller, this is a fragrance that recalls the well-worn leathers and pages within a home library. Place this candle in any room, and it will instantly become a warm, welcoming space for reflection.
Shop Langston's Library
Maya Tangelo
At the forefront of this popular fragrance is refreshing citrus, which absolutely delights everyone's inner child. It is then balanced with warm woods and mint tea.
Shop Maya Tangelo

The Academics

Dark Academia
Experience the cozy embrace of cashmere and warm milk with the captivating depth of sandalwood. Rich black wax poured within a sleek black vessel; Dark Academia is our first onyx-hued candle.
Shop Dark Academia
Light Academia
Enjoy the nostalgic aroma of textbooks with the unexpected brightness of citrusy sherbet. Light Academia embodies a perfect balance of playfulness and sophistication.
Shop Light Academia

The Library

Cozy Mystery
Perfect for cuddling season. This fragrance evokes a cozy log cabin warmed by a fireplace. Inside, the air is filled with the sweet-spice of custard, the buttery warmth of barrel-aged rum, and the subtle hush of something mysterious unfolding.
Shop Cozy Mystery
Purple Prose
A captivating candle that evokes the serene beauty of blooming lavender fields intertwined with the warmth of rich, aromatic woods. Each flicker invites you to unwind after a long day or set the mood for intimate gatherings.
Shop Purple Prose
Contemporary Romance
We've captured the sweet aroma of strawberry cheesecake brightened by the effervescent sparkle of limoncello in a blush pink package. Poured in a pink vessel with matching wax, it’s as charming to look at as it is indulgent to burn.
Shop Contemporary Romance
Beach Read
Experience the blend of soft sand, sea salt, cardamom, and ocean water in a scent as crisp and revitalizing as coastal air. Clean and endlessly refreshing, it evokes the simple joy of toes in the sand and stories carried on the breeze.
Shop Beach Read