Sensapure Flavors launched SensaNaturals Flavor Solutions, a clean-label flavor platform built from whole-food ingredients. Instead of “natural flavors” on labels, you get actual ingredient names. Real transparency for functional foods and beverages.
Sensapure Flavors has officially launched SensaNaturals Flavor Solutions, a new clean-label flavoring platform built entirely from recognizable, whole-food ingredients. The system allows functional food and beverage brands to achieve great taste using food ingredient declarations rather than the catch-all “natural flavors” term that increasingly draws consumer scrutiny.
The platform was first teased by Tyrus Sciarra on Episode #179 of the PricePlow Podcast at IFT First 2025, where he discussed the growing industry movement toward transparent labeling and Sensapure’s response to it. Now officially launched, SensaNaturals delivers on that promise with custom-built, science-backed taste modulation solutions designed for functional foods and beverages.
This launch comes at an ideal time for the Salt Lake City-based flavor house. Following their successful Fall 2025 beverage concepts at SupplySide Global and their continued expansion (including a new 75,000 sq ft facility in Lehi), Sensapure is positioning itself as the go-to partner for brands seeking both taste excellence and ingredient transparency.
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What Makes SensaNaturals Different from “Natural Flavors”?
Learn about flavors with Sensapure. Mike and Ben with Scott Zimmerman and Derek Greer of Sensapure Flavors in Episode #149, exploring the art and science of flavor creation in supplements and energy drinks.
The term “natural flavors” has become a point of contention for many consumers. While technically derived from natural sources, these flavor systems don’t tell consumers what they’re actually consuming. Some influencers and health advocates have amplified this concern, driving demand for ingredient transparency beyond what traditional flavor labeling provides.
SensaNaturals takes a fundamentally different approach. Every component of the flavor system comes from recognizable ingredients, allowing the finished product to list each one by name. Instead of “natural berry flavor”, a label might read: blueberry juice powder, acai extract, pomegranate powder. Consumers can see exactly what they’re getting.
Sensapure’s technical team, led by Master Flavorist Scott Zimmerman and Food Technology Director Derek Greer, developed SensaNaturals to meet specific regulatory standards. The platform complies with FDA regulations (21 CFR §101.22), USDA Organic requirements, and EU regulations for non-flavor labeling. Brands targeting clean-label certifications or international markets can maintain compliance while delivering exceptional taste.
Key benefits of the SensaNaturals platform:
- No “flavors” of any kind listed on the ingredient label
- 100% real, label-disclosed ingredients
- Performance built for functional food and beverage applications
- Customized by active ingredient profile and regulatory needs
- Designed to overcome taste and formulation challenges
The Five Ingredient Pillars of SensaNaturals
Sensapure built SensaNaturals around five core ingredient categories, each serving specific taste and formulation functions:
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Whole food and botanical extracts
From citrus peels to fermented vanilla, Sensapure uses food-based components to build bright, rich, or floral profiles with clear label names. Where a traditional system might use “natural berry flavor,” SensaNaturals specifies exactly which berries and extracts contribute to the taste.
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Fermentation-derived taste modulators
Through naturally fermented whole-food ingredients, the platform creates subtle sweetness, masks bitterness, and enhances umami without synthetic ingredients. An example formulation combines fermented coconut nectar with kombu extract for a balanced tropical profile with tangy depth.
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Amino acids and peptides for taste modulation
Amino acids derived from plants or proteins can naturally smooth, enhance, or support flavor while aligning with active formulations. L-theanine, for instance, softens bitterness in green tea beverages while maintaining functional benefits.
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Natural sweetening and taste-masking fibers
Prebiotic fibers like chicory root and acacia create smooth sweetness, reduce aftertaste, and support a clean mouthfeel. Acacia fiber serves as the carrier for SensaNaturals systems, keeping everything clean and natural while supporting gut-friendly formulations.
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Functional herbs and adaptogens
Real plant actives from ashwagandha to bergamot add complexity, wellness benefits, and storytelling value. A formulation combining spearmint, ashwagandha, and cacao nibs powder creates a cool, calming cocoa profile that delivers both flavor and function.
Applications and Format Considerations
Sensapure Flavors showcased their Fall 2025 PURE series at SupplySide Global — 4 production-ready concepts proving even the toughest functional ingredients can taste exceptional.
SensaNaturals is currently available in powder form only, but the platform is compatible with both RTM (ready-to-mix) and RTD (ready-to-drink) applications. This gives brands flexibility across their product lines while maintaining clean-label integrity.
The platform works across multiple product categories:
- Functional beverages: Energy drinks, relaxation sodas, protein waters, and performance beverages
- Sports nutrition: Pre-workouts, amino acid blends, and recovery formulas
- Wellness supplements: Adaptogenic blends, nootropic stacks, and sleep support products
- Plant-based products: Protein powders and functional food applications where clean labels are essential
Brands working with challenging functional ingredients will find SensaNaturals valuable. Adaptogens like ashwagandha, bitter nootropics, and high-dose proteins create significant taste challenges that traditional masking approaches struggle to address. SensaNaturals provides complete flavor systems tailored to specific formulations rather than generic solutions.
The Real-World Taste Test
Tyrus Sciarra, Sensapure’s Director of Sales, has been sampling the SensaNaturals lineup with brands and industry contacts. His assessment of the standout flavors:
“My favorites would love to hear from Lauren or Alix on theirs, as well): Banana (which is crazy as I am not even the biggest banana fan), Strawberry & Orange combo was very fun & authentically true to fruit taste (hit at different times on the palate which is cool). Some other really good ones: black cherry, sour lemon, raspberry, & grapefruit.”
The banana flavor catching attention from someone who doesn’t consider himself a banana fan speaks to the authenticity SensaNaturals achieves. These aren’t artificial-tasting fruit flavors but profiles built from actual fruit components that deliver genuine taste experiences.
Lauren Howard, Sensapure’s Business Development & Innovation Strategy Manager, explains the philosophy:
“With SensaNaturals, brands can confidently showcase pure, transparent ingredients. Our flavors are crafted from whole fruit parts, allowing your label to proudly display fruit powders, extracts, or juice powders—no hidden ingredients. Plus, we use acacia fiber as a carrier, keeping everything clean and natural. In today’s market, transparency is key. When consumers see clear, honest labels, their confidence grows, and they’re more likely to choose products they trust.”
The Cost and Performance Reality
SensaNaturals systems typically cost more than traditional natural flavor systems. On Episode #179, Tyrus outlined the economics: artificial flavors can run one to two cents per serving, natural systems three to ten cents, and clean-label whole-food alternatives can reach fifteen cents or higher per serving.
Beyond ingredient cost, usage rates factor into the equation. Natural juice powders and fruit extracts often require higher inclusion levels to achieve comparable flavor intensity. A brand attempting to match a traditional natural flavor profile using juice powders might need five times the usage rate.
These premiums make sense for brands whose consumers prioritize ingredient transparency and are willing to pay for it. Premium-positioned products targeting health-conscious demographics can justify the additional costs through marketing messages and consumer loyalty. Brands serving price-sensitive markets may find SensaNaturals less economically feasible, though this calculation shifts as consumer preferences continue evolving toward clean labels.
Why This Matters for the Functional Food Industry
Consumer scrutiny of ingredient labels continues intensifying. Data indicates that 57% of global consumers now prioritize natural claims when choosing health products, and this number keeps rising. The “natural flavors” designation that once satisfied transparency demands no longer meets expectations for many consumers.
Sensapure’s response with SensaNaturals acknowledges this reality while providing a practical solution. Brands don’t have to choose between great taste and clean labels. They don’t have to sacrifice flavor intensity for ingredient transparency. SensaNaturals bridges that gap with systems built specifically for functional applications.
The platform also protects brands from potential regulatory shifts. As scrutiny of flavor labeling increases globally, having systems that already comply with strict transparency requirements provides insurance against future restrictions.
Working with Sensapure on Clean-Label Solutions
Tyrus Sciarra, Sensapure Flavors’ high-energy sales expert, breaks down flavor science, industry trends, and the natural vs. artificial debate on Episode #179 of the PricePlow Podcast, recorded at IFT First 2025.
SensaNaturals exemplifies Sensapure’s broader approach to flavor development: meet brands where they are and build solutions tailored to their specific needs. The company isn’t selling generic fruit powders by the pound. They’re building full-spectrum flavor systems customized to individual formulations, functionality requirements, and clean-label goals.
Brands interested in exploring SensaNaturals can work directly with Sensapure’s Innovation Center in Salt Lake City. The facility’s pilot-scale equipment allows testing under real production conditions, ensuring flavor systems perform consistently through manufacturing processes.
For brands whose current formulations aren’t quite hitting the mark on taste or label transparency, or for those launching new products with clean-label positioning, getting Sensapure involved early in development makes the difference.
Connect with Sensapure Flavors through their website at Sensapure.com or reach out to Tyrus Sciarra directly through LinkedIn (or watch episode 179 where he shares his direct cell phone number!). Subscribe below for updates on SensaNaturals and Sensapure’s continued innovation:
