A process for producing a nonionic surfactant wherein a polyol, e.g. a saccharide, is introduced into a reaction vessel, a mixture of an alkylene oxide containing from about 2 to about 5 carbon atoms and a lipophilic compound containing an epoxide group and having at least 6 carbon atoms is introduced into the reaction vessel, the polyol and the mixture being reacted in the presence of a catalyst and under conditions such that the rate of introduction of the mixture into the reaction vessel is controlled by the rate of reaction between the alkylene oxide and the polyol, the reaction between the polyol and the mixture being conducted at a temperature above the boiling point of the alkylene oxide.