No. Early fabric softeners incorporated "treated" tallow, oil or fat mixed with a bit of soap in some kind emulsion to cut the "harsh" feel that cotton and similar fabri
…cs picked up when dried. The new softeners are wonders of modern chemistry, and will contain fatty alcohols that are pretty much all derived from plants rather than animals. There are a number of other chemicals in softners that act to fortify or produce different features. Silicon compounds will usually be present, as will agents to reduce foaming, as well as add fragrance and color to the product. If you've got a bit of patience and access to the net, you can grab a product label and educate yourself. Most if not all the information is there online. A link is provided below for further reading. You don't have to be a chemist to understand the "gist" of the article, but some of the data are going to be a bit on the "compelx" side. And there is always WikiAnswers for more information. Best of luck sorting things out. (MORE) 
