A surfactant composition comprising: (a) a surfactant material； (c) a polyethylene imine of the general formula -(CH2CH2NH)n-； and (d) an aromatic, monoethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester of the formula (I) where R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C16 alkyl, C1-C16 alkoxy, aryl and substituted aryl, and R2 is selected from the group consisting of aryl, substituted aryl and C6-C16 alkyl； the materials (b)-(d) each having an odour value of 10,000 maximum. The problem of rancidity, commonly encountered when low-grade surfactant materials are used, especially in soaps, is considerably reduced.
