Abstract: A fabric softening composition comprising from 1 to 80% by weight of ester-linked quaternary ammonium fabric softening material comprising a quaternised mixture of mono- di- and tri-ester of alkanolamine in which the tri-ester content of said mixture is from 25 to 50% by weight of said mixture, wherein: (i) when the tri-ester content is from 25 to 30% by weight of said mixture the free amine content of the composition is less than 0.5% by weight on the weight of said mixture, (ii) when the tri-ester content is more than 30% by weight of said mixture the free amine content of the composition is less than 6% by weight based on the weight of said mixture, the composition containing less than 1% by weight of free fatty acid based on said mixture.

Abstract: Cationic surfactant compound comprising, in the form of a quaternary ammonium salt, a product of condensation between, on the one hand a fraction of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, or of derivatives of said acids chosen from the group comprising esters, anhydrides and acid chlorides, and on the other hand at least one tertiary amine, characterized in that, in combination:the alkyl chains of the tertiary amine together contain from 4 to 12 carbon atomsthe alkyl chains of the tertiary amine together contain from 1 to 4 functions each chosen from the group comprising hydroxyl and amine functionsthe fatty acids fraction/tertiary amine mole ratio is between 1.85 and 1.40the fatty acids each possess a hydrocarbon chain in which the number of carbon atoms is between 5 and 23.