An aqueous, perfumed cosmetic composition which is essentially free of short-chain, monohydric alcohols and which comprises: a) a first nonionic surfactant having general formula (I) in which R1 is an alkyl group having from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms and m and n represent weight-averages in the range from about 2 to about 80; and b) an auxiliary nonionic surfactant comprising one or more polyethoxylated nonionic surfactants of HLB from about 10 to about 16. The compositions of the invention have excellent clarity and stability and are particularly suitable for perfuming skin or hair where the use of short chain alcohols is preferably avoided.
