Methods for evaluating an optimal surfactant structure for oil recovery by systematically evaluating surfactants' phase behavior, cloud point, dynamic interfacial tension, dynamic contact angle, and spontaneous and forced imbibition. In one embodiment, a method for determining an optimal surfactant structure for oil recovery includes the steps of evaluating a surfactant's phase behavior, evaluating the surfactant's solubility, evaluating the surfactant's dynamic interfacial tension in a porous rock sample, evaluating the surfactant's static and dynamic contact angles in the porous rock sample, evaluating the surfactant's spontaneous imbibition in the porous rock sample, and evaluating the surfactant's forced imbibition in the porous rock sample. In one example, the surfactant comprises a polyoxyethylenated (POE) straight-chain alcohol.