Abstract: An aryl-substituted saccharide or glycoside or a mixture of a plurality of aryl-substituted saccharides or glycosides have at least good resistance to high temperatures and salt, and lower filtration loss. These aryl-substituted saccharide or glycoside are used in making a drilling fluid composition. The aryl-substituted saccharide or glycoside or the mixture of a plurality of aryl-substituted saccharides or glycosides each or in combination bears a substituent A and a substituent B, wherein the substituent A contains a unit —O—R6— in its structure and the substituent B contains a unit in its structure, and the substituents and the numbers are defined in the description.