Products useful as emulsifying agents are obtained by condensing aryl and aralkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols with mono or polyhydric alcohols, or derivatives thereof containing at least one free hydroxy group, and subjecting the products or the starting components to sulphonation. The following aryl and aralkyl ethers are mentioned: mono and di cresylglycolethers, mono and di naphthylglycolethers, chlorbenzylpropylglycolether, cresylmethyl-butyleneglycolether, xylylether of glycolmonoacetate, mono and di cresyl, xylyl or naphthylglycerine ethers, dimonochlorcresylglycerine ether, naphthylbutylglycerine ether, cresylbenzylglycerine ether, monocresorcylmonocetylglycerine ether, xylyloleylglycerine ether and aryl and aralkyl ethers of sorbitol. The ethers may be condensed with ethyl, propyl, lauryl, cetyl and higher alcohols or amylenehydrate. Derivatives of alcohols which may be used are monoethyl or monocresylglycolether, dimethylglycerine ether, monomethylether of glycerine monoacetate. The products may be used for emulsifying animal, vegetable or mineral oils and halogenated hydrocarbons. Instead of the alcohols, their sulphuric esters may be employed or alkylene oxides or unsaturated compounds, e.g. allyl alcohol which react with water with formation of hydroxy groups. In examples: (1) butanol is condensed with mono and di cresylglycol ether, chlorcresylglycolether, mono and di xylylglycerine ether or a -naphthylglycerine ether, the ether or the condensation product being reacted with sulphuric acid; (2) a mixture of cetyl alcohol, n-butanol and xylylglycerine ether is treated with oleum; (3) a mixture of isopropanol, n-butanol and benzylxylyglycerine ether is treated with sulphuric acid. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also the sulphonation of the products after the condensation has been completed, e.g. by treating with halogenalkylsulphonic acids, or, if a halogen be present by treating with a sulphite. The use of the products for dispersing ethereal oils in perfumery is mentioned. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.ALSO:Products useful as wetting, foaming, detergent and emulsifying agents are obtained by condensing aryl and aralkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols with mono or polyhydric alcohols, or derivatives thereof containing at least one free hydroxy group, and subjecting the products or the starting components to sulphonation. The aryl and aralkyl ethers may be prepared by treating alkali phenolates or alcoholates with halogen hydrins or by condensing polyhydric alcohols with halogen compounds such as benzyl chloride. The following ethers are mentioned: mono and di cresylglycolethers, mono and di naphthylglycolethers, chlorbenzylpropylglycolether, cresylmethylbutyleneglycolether, xylylether of glycolmonoacetate, mono and di cresyl, xylyl or naphthylglycerine ethers, dimonochlorcresylglycerine ether, naphthylbutylglycerine ether, cresylbenzylglycerine ether, monocresorcylmonocetylglycerine ether, xylyloleylglycerine ether and aryl and aralkyl ethers of sorbitol. The ethers may be condensed with ethyl, propyl, lauryl, cetyl and higher alcohols or amylenehydrate. Derivatives of alcohols which may be used are monoethyl or monocresylglycolether, dimethylglycerine ether, monomethylether of glycerine monoacetate. The products may be used for emulsifying animal, vegetable or mineral oils and halogenated hydrocarbons. Instead of the alcohols, their sulphuric esters may be employed or alkylene oxides or unsaturated compounds, e.g. allyl alcohol, which react with water with formation of hydroxy groups. Acid condensing agents, e.g. phosphoric acid, acid anhydrides or halogenides or zinc chloride may be used for the condensation reaction. In example: (1) butanol is condensed with mono and di cresylglycolether, chlorcresylglycolether, mono and di xylylglycerine ether or a -naphthylglycerine ether, the ether or the condensation product being reacted with sulphuric acid; (2) a mixture of cetyl alcohol, n-butanol and xylylglycerine ether is treated with oleum; (3) a mixture of isopropanol, n-butanol and benzylxylylglycerine ether is treated with sulphuric acid. Chlorsulphonic acid and aminosulphonic acid may be used for the sulphonation which may be carried out in the presence of solvents, organic bases, acids or acid anhydrides or halogenides. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also the sulphonation of the products after the condensation has been completed, e.g. by treating with halogenalkylsulphonic acids, or, if a halogen be present by treating with a sulphite. The use of the products for dispersing dyestuffs for acetate silk and ethereal oils in perfumery is mentioned. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.