Sulfate-Free Formulating: How to Blend Glucoside Surfactants (APGs) Like a Pro
Posted by CA on Oct 19th 2026
Do you ever check out the labels of "natural" focused household cleaners, shampoos or skin care products and thought that you needed a chemistry degree to decode it? Names like Decyl Glucoside, Coco Glucoside, and Lauryl Glucoside pop up often on those labels and they sound like they might be petroleum based or synthetic. They are really unique natural focused surfactants (Surfactants are basically wetting agents that also clean well). And this type of surfactant is primarily derived from plant sugars like from corn and combined with fatty alcohols made from coconut or palm kernel oil.
One family of the more natural focused surfactants is called Alkyl Polyglucosides (APGs). They're nonionic, sulfate-free, and readily biodegradable, plus as a bonus mild on skin when used correctly. They deliver real cleaning and real lather without the dryness that most harsh sulfates can cause. Level 7 Chemical offers several of the APG surfactants in our Surfactant category
The catch: they aren't always interchangeable. Pick the wrong one and you get a watery, flat cleanser instead of a rich, creamy lather. The secret most pros use is blending. A primary glucoside does the heavy lifting, and a secondary glucoside fixes its weak spot. Below, we break down all four, then show you how to pair them.
Check out the blog post on Decyl Glucoside too!
Meet the Big Four
Carbon chain length is the key. Shorter chains foam fast and stay thin. Longer chains build slower, denser foam and add body.
| Glucoside | Carbon chain | Foam style | Viscosity | Best uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside | Ultra-short (C8–C10) | Fine, quick, low-to-moderate | Water-thin, clear | Oil solubilizer, micellar water, streak-free sprays |
| Decyl Glucoside | Short (C8–C16, C10-rich) | High, instant "flash" foam that fades quickly | Low, fluid | Facial cleansers, hand soaps, light to medium duty cleaners |
| Coco Glucoside | Medium (C8–C16) | Creamy, dense, moderately stable | Medium, pourable | Shampoos, body washes, bubble baths |
| Lauryl Glucoside | Long (C12–C16) | Slow to build, most stable and luxurious | High; gel or paste when cool | Dish soap, laundry, clarifying shampoo, body gels |
Primary vs. Secondary: Every Glucoside Plays Both Roles
The primary surfactant sets the character of the product: how it cleans, foams, and feels. The secondary surfactant covers the primary's weak spot. Each glucoside below leads one recipe and supports another.
| Glucoside | As the primary | As the secondary | What it adds as a secondary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decyl Glucoside | Gentle Facial Cleanser | Streak-Free Counter Spray | Extra cleaning power without streaks |
| Coco Glucoside | Luxurious Body Wash | Grease-Busting Dish Soap | Creamy foam and a softer feel on hands |
| Lauryl Glucoside | Grease-Busting Dish Soap | Luxurious Body Wash | Natural thickness and long-lasting lather |
| Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside | Streak-Free Counter Spray | Gentle Facial Cleanser | Dissolves fragrance oils, keeps it clear and extra mild |
Rule of thumb: pair a short chain with a long chain when you want speed and body. Pair two short chains when you want a light, clear, rinse-free product.
4 Recipes: One Primary, One Secondary
All recipes are by weight, using glucosides as supplied (about 50% active). Glucosides vary in thickness, so tablespoons aren't reliable. "Water to 100%" means add enough distilled water to bring the batch total to 100%.
1. Everyday Oasis Gentle Facial Cleanser
Primary Decyl Glucoside Secondary Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside Support Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Decyl gives a quick, satisfying lather. Capryl adds extra mildness and keeps any botanical extracts or fragrance fully dissolved.
| Ingredient | Weight % | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Decyl Glucoside | 12.0 | Primary cleanser, flash foam |
| Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside | 4.0 | Secondary: mildness, solubilizing |
| Cocamidopropyl Betaine (optional) | 6.0 | Cushions skin, stabilizes foam |
| Vegetable Glycerin | 4.0 | Humectant |
| Broad-spectrum preservative | 1.0 | Prevents microbial growth |
| Citric Acid (50% solution) | to pH 5.0–5.5 | pH adjuster |
| Distilled Water | to 100% | Base |
How to make it: Mix the glycerin into the water. Gently stir in both glucosides and the betaine until clear, without whipping up foam. Add the preservative. Adjust with citric acid drop by drop until pH strips read 5.0–5.5.
2. Luxurious Lather Family Body Wash
Primary Coco Glucoside Secondary Lauryl Glucoside
Coco delivers the creamy, dense foam people expect in the shower. Lauryl adds natural thickness and keeps the lather from collapsing.
| Ingredient | Weight % | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Coco Glucoside | 20.0 | Primary cleanser, creamy foam |
| Lauryl Glucoside | 10.0 | Secondary: body and stable lather |
| Vegetable Glycerin | 4.0 | Humectant |
| Xanthan Gum (clear grade) | 0.5 | Gel texture |
| Skin-safe essential oil (e.g., lavender) | 0.8 | Fragrance |
| Broad-spectrum preservative | 1.0 | Shelf stability |
| Citric Acid (50% solution) | to pH 5.5 | pH adjuster |
| Distilled Water | to 100% | Base |
How to make it: Warm the Lauryl Glucoside in a warm water bath until fluid. Disperse the xanthan in the glycerin to make a slurry, then stir it into the water until smooth. Gently blend in both glucosides. Mix the essential oil into a little of the Coco Glucoside first, then add it with the preservative. Adjust to pH 5.5; the gel will thicken slightly as the pH drops.
3. Grease-Busting Plant-Based Dish Soap
Primary Lauryl Glucoside Secondary Coco Glucoside Support Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Lauryl's long carbon chain grabs and lifts cooking oil. Coco adds creamy foam that holds up in a greasy sink and feels softer on hands.
| Ingredient | Weight % | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Lauryl Glucoside | 25.0 | Primary degreaser, viscosity |
| Coco Glucoside | 12.0 | Secondary: foam and hand feel |
| Cocamidopropyl Betaine (optional) | 8.0 | Foam stability in dirty water |
| Lemon or grapefruit essential oil | 1.0 | Fragrance |
| Preservative | 1.0 | Water-based safety |
| Citric Acid (50% solution) | to pH 6.0–6.5 | pH adjuster |
| Distilled Water | to 100% | Base |
How to make it: Warm the Lauryl Glucoside until pourable and blend it into warm water. Stir in the Coco Glucoside and betaine. Premix the essential oil into a spoonful of the surfactant blend, then stir it in with the preservative. Adjust to pH 6.0–6.5.
4. Streak-Free Multi-Surface Counter Spray
Primary Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside Secondary Decyl Glucoside
Capryl's ultra-short chain makes low, fast-breaking foam that wipes clean with no rinse. A small dose of Decyl boosts cleaning on fingerprints and kitchen film.
| Ingredient | Weight % | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside | 4.0 | Primary cleaner and solubilizer |
| Decyl Glucoside | 1.0 | Secondary: extra soil removal |
| Isopropyl alcohol (70–99%) | 3.0 | Faster drying, fewer water spots |
| Essential oil (e.g., tea tree, peppermint) | 0.5 | Fragrance |
| Preservative | 1.0 | Needed at this low alcohol level |
| Distilled Water | to 100% | Base |
How to make it: In a small cup, stir the essential oil into the Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside first so the surfactant traps the oil. Add the Decyl Glucoside. Slowly pour in the water and alcohol while stirring; the mix should turn clear. Add the preservative and bottle it. Skip acidic adjusters if you'll use it on natural stone.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Body wash or dish soap is too watery | Glucosides don't thicken with salt the way sulfates do | Raise the Lauryl Glucoside share. Still thin? Premix 0.2% xanthan into a little glycerin and stir it in. |
| Spray is cloudy or oil floats on top | Not enough solubilizer for the amount of oil | Use Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside and always mix oils into the raw surfactant before adding water. Or cut the oil. |
| Skin feels dry or tacky after use | pH left too high; raw glucosides run pH 11–12.5 | Adjust with 50% citric acid to pH 5.0–5.5 for skin, 6.0–6.5 for household cleaners. Verify with pH strips. |
| Lauryl Glucoside is a solid white paste | Normal for long-chain glucosides below room temperature | Warm the closed container in a 40–45 °C (104–113 °F) water bath for 15–20 minutes and stir. It returns to a fluid liquid. |
Stock Up on All Four
Whether you're scaling a home recipe into a product line or reformulating a sulfate-free cleaner, Level 7 Chemical carries the full glucoside lineup in bulk, with no minimums:
- Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside: the clear, rinse-free solubilizer
- Decyl Glucoside: ultra-mild flash foam
- Coco Glucoside: the creamy all-rounder
- Lauryl Glucoside: thickness and heavy-duty degreasing
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine, 30% active: the go-to secondary for softer, denser foam
Not sure which pairing fits your formula?
Our team will help you match the right primary and secondary glucoside to your product.
Shop Surfactants