A surfactant composition comprising: alkylarylsulfonate surfactant system comprising at least two isomers of the alkylarylsulfonate surfactant of the formula:  wherein: L is an acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbyl of from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in total; M is a cation or cation mixture and q is the valence thereof; and b are numbers selected such that said composition is electroneutral; R′ is selected from H and C1 to C3 alkyl; R″ is selected from H and C1 to C3 alkyl; R′″ is selected from H and C1 to C3 alkyl; any of R′ and R″ is nonterminally attached to L and at least one of R′ and R″ is C1 to C3 alkyl; and A is aryl; and wherein: said alkylarylsulfonate surfactant system comprises two or more isomers with respect to positions of attachment of R′, R″ and A to L; in at least about 60% of said composition, A is attached to L in the position which is selected from positions alpha- and beta- to either of the two terminal carbon atoms thereof; and wherein further said alkylarylsulfonate surfactant system has at least one (preferably both) of the following properties: said alkylarylsulfonate surfactant system has a ratio of nonquatemary to quaternary carbon atoms in L of at least about 10:1 by weight, when said quaternary carbon atoms are present; and there is no more than 40% by weight loss as measured by Hardness Tolerance Test.