Tissue papers, in particular pattern densified tissue papers, having an enhanced tactile sense of softness when treated with certain polyhydroxy fatty acid amide softener systems that are biodegradable are disclosed. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amides have formula (I) wherein R is H, C1-C hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, methoxyethyl, methoxypropyl or a mixture thereof; R is a C5-C31 hydrocarbyl group; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain.