In detail

Carriers make low-dose or sticky extracts easier to handle. A 1% spermidine extract, for example, is mostly carrier by weight; a spray-dried juice powder may use maltodextrin to improve flow and protect colour. The carrier affects assay calculation, dose per capsule, allergen status, and the label.

A specification should state the carrier and its approximate share, or state that the grade is carrier-free. If the carrier is wheat-derived, the gluten statement matters. If the product is marketed as clean-label or carrier-free, that should be verifiable on the TDS and COA, not only in a sales email.

Why it matters to a buyer

  • It changes how much extract you need per serving to hit a label dose.
  • It can introduce an allergen or a label declaration.
  • It explains apparent differences in assay and price between grades.

What to ask a supplier

01

Which carrier is used, and at what approximate percentage?

02

Is a carrier-free or alternative-carrier grade available?

03

What allergen statement applies to the carrier?

Cite this page

Rainwood Botanical. "Carrier." Botanical extract glossary, October 2026. https://ingredients.rainwoodbio.com/resources/glossary/carrier/