This invention relates to fabric softener compositions comprising a fabric softener component or a mixture of fabric softener components and at least one polymer formed from the polymerization of c) a water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or blend of monomers comprising at least one cationic monomer and/or at least one non-ionic monomer, d) a cross-linking agent or a mixture of cross-linking agents in an amount of less than 5 ppm by the weight of component a), and c) optionally at least one chain transfer agent, with the proviso that (i) if the polymer is a cationic homopolymer then the amount of the crosslinking agent is always more than 0 ppm, as thickeners, as well as to new fabric softener compositions.