The extent to which the uptake of CI Basic Blue 3 on Courtelle S tow was enhanced by three derivatives of benzyl alcohol was found to be proportional to the amount of each carrier adsorbed by the fibre, with maximum dye uptake coinciding with maximum uptake of carrier by the fibre. Although the maximum extent of uptake of each carrier corresponded approximately to the aqueous solubility of the carrier at the dyeing temperature (80°C) used, results from a previous study on the carrier action of benzyl alcohol on Courtelle S were employed to demonstrate that maximum uptake of all four carriers was not simply related to aqueous solubilty. The solubility parameter concept was used to demonstrate that the maximum extent of carrier uptake was related to the Sa value of the carrier. The linear relationship obtained between the maximum extent of uptake of each carrier and the 6 , value of the carriers was considered to demonstrate that polar forces primarily contribute to carrier-acrylic fibre interaction.