An alkenyl glycoside is prepared by reacting a metathesis-derived unsaturated fatty alcohol containing 10 to 30 carbon atoms with either (1) a reducible monosaccharide or composition hydrolyzable to a reducible monosaccharide, or (2) a hydrocarbyl glycoside produced by reacting an alcohol containing up to 6 carbon atoms with a reducible monosaccharide or composition hydrolyzable to a reducible monosaccharide. Each of these reactions is performed in the presence of an acid catalyst and under conditions sufficient to form the alkenyl glycoside or hydrocarbyl glycoside. The preferred alkenyl glycosides are 9-decen-1-yl glycoside; 9-dodecen-1-yl glycoside; 9-tridecen-1-yl glycoside; 9-pentadecen-1-yl glycoside; 9-octadecen-yl glycoside; or 9-octadecen-1,18-diyl glycoside.