It is generally believed that of the normal fatty alcohol sulfates, the C12homologue produces the most foam and the C14homologue the richest lather. The validity of these statements has been investigated. The C10to C18normal, even-numbered triethanolamine and sodium alkyl sulfates were foamed, and their foam compared at 25°50°and 75°C. Foam volumes varied with temperature, and from homologue to homologue. Triethanolamine alkyl sulphates confirmed that the C12homologue gave the most abundant foam at 25°C and C14homologue at 50°C. Sodium alkyl sulphate series showed that the C14homologues gave the highest foam volume at 50°and 75°C respectively. Foams of spherical bubbles with thick walls which imparted a rich texture, were formed, but all the compounds except the C16and C18homologues, drained rapidly to give thin walled polyhedral foams with inferior texture. The preference for the C14homologue was therefore not supported in this respect. Impurities decreased the initial foam volume, but increased the stability. No trend was detected for foam collapse.