Abstract: A process for preparing alkyl polyglycosides by reacting a fatty alcohol with a saccharide in a glycosidation reaction under acidic condition wherein a water-containing emulsion is drawn off from the reaction includes an improvement wherein the emulsion is demulsified by raising the pH of the water-containing emulsion, preferably to a level above 7, whereupon the demulsified water-containing emulsion is allowed to settle into at least a predominantly fatty alcohol containing first layer and a predominantly water-containing second layer. The fatty alcohol-containing layer can be recycled back to the glycosidation reaction. The pH of the water-containing emulsion can be raised by the addition thereto of caustic, such as sodium hydroxide.