The Paradox: A transparency-forward supplement brand with uneven third-party verification and compliance signals
Investigation confirms Double Wood posts Certificates of Analysis for products—and in at least some cases includes ISO 17025–accredited third-party potency tests—but independent industry testing has flagged underlabeling on certain items and the brand was named in a 2025 Proposition 65 lead notice, creating a split picture of quality control and transparency. [3][4][14][2].
Our Verdict
Comprehensive analysis shows a nuanced brand. On one side: a visible COA culture and, at least for some products, ISO-17025 third-party potency verification—concrete steps many budget brands still skip. On the other: historical regulatory friction (an FDA Warning Letter for drug claims), a live Prop 65 lead notice on several botanicals, and outside lab reports flagging under-potency or labeling confusion on select items. Bottom line: Double Wood can deliver solid value when you buy SKUs with posted, lot-matched third-party potency PDFs; but risk-averse buyers or athletes needing higher-assurance certifications may prefer alternatives with NSF/USP programs or deeper, uniform batch transparency. [1][2][3][4][14][15].
How we investigated:We analyzed regulatory records (FDA, Proposition 65), the company's posted COAs and third-party reports, pricing and product pages, investor/ownership disclosures, and complaint patterns (BBB, Trustpilot, Reddit). Where claims were unstable or contested, we prioritized primary documents (FDA letters, lab PDFs) and identified whether testing was finished-product or 'by input' component testing.
Ideal For
- Shoppers who want posted COAs and occasional third-party potency PDFs at mid-market prices
- Ingredient-savvy users seeking specific raws (e.g., AstaReal, Magtein) without premium brand markups
Avoid If
- You require NSF/USP/USP-Verified or sport certification across your stack
- You prefer brands with lot-by-lot finished-product chromatography for every SKU
- You're buying from international third-party sellers where counterfeit risk is higher
Best Products
- Astaxanthin 12 mg (AstaReal)
- Fisetin 100 mg
- Magnesium L-Threonate (Magtein)
Skip These
- Phosphatidylserine until more potency data is posted
- Any SKU with only component-based COAs and no finished-product testing visible
What to Watch For
Watch for outcomes from the 2025 Prop 65 notice (settlement, reformulation, or labeling), any expansion of third-party potency postings across the catalog, and whether Double Wood formalizes certification footprints (e.g., NSF, USP) to match its transparency positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Double Wood test every product in an ISO-accredited third-party lab?
The brand posts COAs for all products and provides third-party potency PDFs for some SKUs (e.g., Fisetin). Others rely on manufacturer COAs and component testing. [3][4][6].
Has Double Wood had recalls or FDA actions?
No recalls were found specific to Double Wood. FDA issued a 2020 Warning Letter (disease claims), and a Prop 65 lead notice was filed in 2025 for several botanicals. [1][2].
Is Double Wood good value?
Often yes for single-ingredient items (e.g., Quercetin vs. NOW pricing). Value is strongest when your chosen lot has a posted third-party potency PDF. [18][20][21][22].
What should I check before buying?
Open the product page's 'Certificate of Analysis' and 'Third-Party Test Results,' verify lab identity (ISO 17025), and confirm the lot number matches your bottle. [4][5][6].
Are Amazon purchases safe?
Counterfeits can appear via third-party sellers—especially outside the U.S. Buy direct or from the official Amazon seller and verify seals/lot numbers. [19].
Alternatives to Consider
Nootropics Depot
Robust transparency pages, batch COAs compiled by an ISO-accredited partner lab; strong lot-level disclosure culture.
Price:Often higher than Double Wood for comparable nootropics.
Choose when:When third-party documentation depth is your top priority. [23][24].
What Customers Say
Service split: fast fixes vs. subscription/return friction
BBB shows both praise and frustration in 2024–2025 posts. [12][11].
"really impressed with the company and response."
"Very inconsistent and bad quality control."
Customer experience may depend on issue type; confirm return terms for subscriptions and consider purchasing direct for support.
Perceived quality variance
Trustpilot contains both satisfied users and claimants of 'no effect' or contamination concerns. [13].
"Supplements have no effect whatsoever for us."
"We're very sorry to hear about your concern...please send order details."
Results vary; for sensitive categories, prioritize lots with posted third-party potency PDFs and consider brands with broader certifications.
Counterfeits risk on marketplaces
Forum reports of counterfeit Double Wood products in certain countries via 3rd-party sellers on Amazon; buy from official store or authorized sellers. [19].
"they don't sell supplements in my country and it is a counterfeit product"
To reduce risk, order direct or from the official Amazon storefront and inspect seals and lot numbers.
Value Analysis
Pricing Strategy
Mid-market with frequent promos (e.g., category BOGOs) and loyalty credits; many single-ingredient SKUs price below premium competitors.
Ingredient Cost Reality
Use of branded raws (AstaReal, Magtein) in some SKUs likely elevates COGS but enhances perceived value. [7][16].
Markup Analysis
Quercetin 500 mg + Bromelain at $24.95/120 (Double Wood) vs. NOW Quercetin+Bromelain ~$23.10–$39.99 suggests competitive or slightly lower mid-range pricing. [18][20][21][22].
Subscription Warning
Several BBB complaints surprise subscription renewals and return-label disputes; read terms carefully. [12].
Good-to-very-good value when third-party potency documents are posted for the lot you're buying; weaker value on SKUs with only component-based COAs.
Most Surprising Finding
An outside lab program reported a Double Wood phosphatidylserine lot at just 16% of labeled potency—illustrating why lot-matched third-party PDFs matter. [14].
Key Findings
Double Wood publishes Certificates of Analysis and, for some SKUs, links to ISO/IEC 17025–accredited third-party potency tests (e.g., Fisetin: Colmaric Analyticals). This is above the industry norm for public access, though coverage appears inconsistent across the catalog. [3][4][5][6].
Some manufacturer COAs show 'result is substantiated through component testing'—a 'by input' approach that verifies formula inputs rather than finished-product identity/potency, which is less protective for consumers. [3].
Independent industry testing has reported significant shortfalls for specific Double Wood items: NOW Foods' PS testing found 16%–45% of label claim on a Double Wood Phosphatidylserine lot purchased on Amazon; NaturPro's 'bad supplements' list flags Double Wood magnesium glycinate front-panel labeling (400 mg compound vs. 60 mg elemental) and shows ~69–71 mg elemental per cap (fits 60 mg claim but can mislead shoppers). [14][15].
Best Products We Found
Astaxanthin 12 mg (AstaReal)
Antioxidant • $24.95 for 60 softgels (listed). [7].
Strength:Uses AstaReal, a patented, extensively studied astaxanthin raw with numerous human trials; domestic supply chain in WA via AstaReal. [7].
Weakness:No posted finished-product potency chromatograms; relies on branded ingredient's evidence rather than brand-run trials. [7].
Strong pick if you want AstaReal at a competitive price, with the caveat that evidence pertains to the ingredient brand, not Double Wood's lot-level clinicals.
Fisetin 100 mg
Polyphenol/Healthy Aging • $22.95 for 60 caps (listed). [6].
Strength:Has both a manufacturer COA with HPLC potency and an ISO 17025 third-party potency verification posted (Colmaric Analyticals). [3][4][5][6].
Weakness:Third-party posting is SKU-specific; not clear that every Double Wood product has equivalent potency documentation. [6].
One of the brand's better-documented items, demonstrating the transparency customers expect.
Magnesium L-Threonate (Magtein)
Mineral/Cognitive Support • $30.95 for 100 x 500 mg caps (listed). [16].
Strength:Uses Magtein, a branded form with published cognitive data; price is competitive versus well-known alternatives. [16][17].
Weakness:Page does not consistently provide finished-product potency chromatograms; transparency varies by SKU. [16].
Reasonable value route to Magtein if you don't need NSF/USP verification.
Products to Approach Cautiously
Phosphatidylserine (various counts)
Nootropic/Phospholipid • Varies
Issue:NOW/Eurofins testing (2020 sample set) reported Double Wood PS capsules contained 16%–45% of label claim on the tested lot. [14].
Avoid until the brand provides robust third-party potency data by lot and addresses the discrepancy.
Magnesium Glycinate '400 mg' front-panel labeling
Mineral • Varies
Issue:Front label '400 mg' refers to compound weight, not elemental—flagged by NaturPro as potentially misleading. [15].
Check 'elemental magnesium' on the facts panel; consider brands that front-label elemental dose to reduce confusion.
Red Flags
FDA enforcement for disease claims (Dycetin)
2020 FDA Warning Letter classifying Dycetin as an unapproved drug based on cure/mitigation claims. [1].
Frequency:Single letter identified
Company Response:No public response found on FDA page; resolution status not detailed in the letter.
Prop 65 Notice alleging lead in select botanicals
ERC Notice of Violation filed Feb 19, 2025 naming 4 Double Wood products for lead exposure without warning. [2].
Frequency:One 2025 action; case outcome pending
Company Response:Not posted on the brand site at time of review.
Testing methodology clarity
Manufacturer COA footnote cites 'component testing' for result substantiation; best practice is finished-product ID/assay on every lot. [3].
Expert Perspectives
NOW Foods' in-house and Eurofins testing report is a credible, detailed third-party benchmark for PS category quality, though it is a 2020 Amazon sample set rather than a 2025 snapshot. [14].
Transparency Issues
Forum debates allege inconsistent third-party testing and incentivized reviews; however, at least some SKUs (e.g., Fisetin) do show independent potency verification. Treat claims as SKU-specific. [6][4].
Company Background
Ownership:Founded by brothers Reese and Evan Wood (2013). In Jan 2021, Boyne Capital acquired a majority stake in Double Wood LLC, with leadership including CEO Eric Wenke. [9][10].
Founded:2013 in Pennsylvania; grew via Amazon and direct-to-consumer. [9].
Headquarters:3510 Scotts Ln, Suite 219, Philadelphia, PA 19129; additional address used on lab docs: 205 Elmwood Ave, Sharon Hill, PA. [9][6][11].
Market Position:Mid-priced DTC brand emphasizing single-ingredient products, published COAs, and 'value' positioning; offers branded ingredients like Magtein and AstaReal. [7][16].
Regulatory Record:FDA Warning Letter (July 23, 2020) for disease-treatment claims related to 'Dycetin' (website promotion established the product as an unapproved drug). No FDA recall specific to Double Wood found. In Feb 2025, Environmental Research Center (ERC) issued a California Prop 65 Notice of Violation alleging lead exposure without warning for four botanicals (Astragalus, Marshmallow Root, Psyllium Husk, Bee Pollen). Case timeline ongoing. [1][2].
Investigation Methodology
- Document review of FDA enforcement actions and public databases
- Analysis of COA PDFs and third-party lab reports linked from product pages
- Review of ownership press releases
- Price/value comparisons vs. peers
- And pattern analysis of verified consumer complaints and discussions across BBB, Trustpilot, and forums.
Sources & References
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.Double Wood Fisetin – Manufacturer COA (NutraSolutions USA, ISO 17025 no. 113907) (2023)[COA] [link]
- 4.Double Wood Fisetin – Third-Party Certificate of Analysis (Colmaric Analyticals, ISO/IEC 17025 PJLA 86258) (2024)[third-party lab report] [link]
- 5.Colmaric Analyticals – Contact (address matches lab report header) (2024)[lab accreditation context] [link]
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- 14.NOW Foods report – Phosphatidylserine testing (includes Double Wood lot) (2020)[third-party testing] [link]
- 15.NaturPro Scientific – The Bad Supplements List (includes Double Wood magnesium glycinate and PS flags) (2023)[industry analysis] [link]
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- 19.Reddit – Counterfeit report outside the U.S. (Double Wood responded brand not selling in that country) (2025)[forum anecdote] [link]
- 20.NOW Foods – Quercetin with Bromelain price references (Amazon/Walmart/NOW) (2025)[pricing comparator] [link]
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