An alkylphenoxypolyoxyalkylene amine lactone composition obtained by reacting:(a) a lactone represented by the formula: ##STR1## where n is a number between about 1 and about 5; and (b) an alkylphenoxypolyoxyalkylene amine represented by the formula: ##STR2## in which R' is a hydrocarbyl radical having from about 4 to 30 carbon atoms, x represents a number from about 5 to 50, and R" represents a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 hydrocarbyl radical or any combination of C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 hydrocarbyl radicals, such that the oxyalkylene radical can comprise any combination of repeating C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 oxyalkylene units to form block or random copolymers.