Principal solvents, especially mono-ol and diol principal solvents, having a ClogP of from about 0.15 to about 0.64, preferably from about 0.25 to about 0.62, and more preferably from about 0.40 to about 0.60, are disclosed that have the ability to make clear aqueous fabric softener compositions containing relatively high concentrations of fabric softener actives having highly unsaturated hydrocarbon moieties or branched chains in two long-chain hydrophobic groups with specific cis/trans ratios and having long chain hydrocarbon groups with an IV of from about 70 to about 140 for the unsaturated groups corresponding to fatty acids with the same number of carbons and the same configuration, and the said principal solvents are used at levels of less than about 40%. The fabric softener actives are preferably prepared in the presence of chelating agent and/or antioxidant, as disclosed herein. Such materials are new. Other solvents can be present. Premixes of the fabric softening actives, the principal solvents, and, optionally, other solvents are useful in the preparation of complete formulations by obviating/limiting the need for heating.