Amphoteric derivatives of aliphatic polyamines, such as diethylenetriamine or triethylenetetramine reacted with long chain fatty acids, esters or triglycerides from various natural or synthetic sources are effective in the softening/texture modification of substrates such as paper, textiles, human skin surfaces and hair tresses, as well as in applications for metal working and lubrication. The polyamines are first reacted with fatty acids, esters or triglycerides derived from various animal, vegetable or synthetic sources ranging in molecular distribution from butyric through erucic acids (e.g. milkfat, soy bean oil, rapeseed oil) to form polyamines or imidazolines; they are then further reacted with unsaturated or halogenated carboxylic acids, carboxylated epoxy compounds or acid anhydrides (e.g. acrylic acid, itaconic acid, chloroacetic acid, maleic anhydrides octadecenyl anhydride) to form the various amphoteric structures.