A Simple Comparison Chart
Here’s what you’ve been waiting for.
One chart. All five surfactants. Clear comparison.
| Feature | SLS | SLES | AOS | SDS | LDS |
| Cleaning Power | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Foam Amount | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Skin Mildness | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Hard Water Performance | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Cost | $ | $$ | $$$ | $$$$ | $$$$$ |
| Easy to Thicken | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Match the Product to the Surfactant
Making industrial cleaners, degreasers?
→ Use SLS. Strong and cheap.
Making shampoo or body wash?
→ Use SLES (3EO). Balanced and proven.
Making dishwashing liquid for hard water areas?
→ Add AOS to your formula.
Doing laboratory research?
→ Use SDS. High purity required.
Need performance in cold conditions?
→ Consider LDS or other specialty salts.
The Art of Blending
Here’s a secret from 30 years of experience.
Single surfactants are rarely the answer.
The magic happens when you blend.
Classic combo for dishwashing liquid:
SLES (70%) + AOS (20%) + CMEA (10%)
Result: Good foam, works in hard water, thickens properly.
Classic combo for mild shampoo:
SLES (50%) + CAB (30%) + AESA (20%)
Result: Gentle on scalp, rich lather, premium feel.
Price vs. Performance
Every business decision comes down to this.
If budget is tight:
Build around SLES. It’s the workhorse.
Add small amounts of specialty surfactants only where needed.
If you’re targeting premium market:
Invest in milder surfactants.
Customers pay more for “gentle” and “natural feeling.”
If you’re in B2B industrial supply:
SLS is your friend. Cost matters most.
Performance is usually good enough.
Final Advice from an Old Engineer
After 30 years, here’s what I know:
- There’s no perfect surfactant. Each has strengths and weaknesses.
- Know your customer. What do they really need? Cheap price? Mild feel? Foam in hard water?
- Test, test, test. Small batches first. Adjust the formula. Then scale up.
- Build relationships with suppliers. A good supplier tells you the truth. A bad supplier just wants your money.
- Keep learning. The industry changes. New products appear. Regulations update. Stay curious.
What’s Next?
In the next section, we’ll get into the real fun stuff.
Formulation secrets. How to thicken. How to stabilize.
How to solve the problems that keep you up at night.
Stay tuned.
