Surfactant compositions contain one or more compounds according to formula (I) wherein R.sup.1 is methyl, ethyl, or 1-propyl; R is a C4-C20 aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cyclic, alicyclic, or secondary, branched or bicyclic alkyl group, or a polyhydroxyalkyl group according to formula (A) wherein u is an integer from 0 to 2 and R.sup.2 is H, .alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl, .beta.-D-pyranosyl, or .beta.-D-galactopyranosyl; and Z is a linking group selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexyl); CH.sub.2(CH.sub.2).sub.n{N.sup.+O--R.sup.1--CH.sub.2(CH.sub.2).sub.o}.sub- .p, where p is an integer from 1 to 10 and n and o are each independently integers from 1 to 5; (CH.sub.2).sub.r[O(CH.sub.2).sub.s].sub.tO(CH.sub.2).sub.q, where s is an integer from 2 to 4, t is an integer from 0 to 2, and r and q are each individually 2 or 3; (CH.sub.2).sub.m, where m is an integer from 2 to 6; and isophorone residue (B)