The present invention relates to defoaming compositions comprising compounds having the formula C5H11CH(CH2CH2CH3)CH2O(CH2CH(X)O)nH (I) where X═(CH2)aCH3 where a=0 or 1 and where n=0.5-5; and one or more hydrotropes selected from the group consisting of branched or linear C4-C10 alkyl glycosides and optionally one or more anionic hydrotrope selected from the group consisting of fatty acid soaps where the acyl group contains 10-22 carbon atoms, and which could be saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched; or a sulfonate chosen from the group cumene sulfonate and xylene sulfonate, and the use of such compositions as defoaming and/or antifoaming agents. The invention also pertains to a composition comprising a) a compound C5H11CH(CH2CH2CH3)CH2O(CH2CH(X)O)nH (I) where X═(CH2)aCH3 where a=0 or 1 and n=0.5-5 b) one or more hydrotrope selected from the group consisting of branched or linear C4-C10 alkyl glycosides, c) optionally one or more anionic hydrotrope selected from the group consisting of fatty acid soaps where the acyl group contains 8-22, preferably 9-18 carbon atoms, and which could be saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched; or a sulfonate chosen from the group cumene sulfonate and xylene sulfonate, and d) N,N-bis(3-aminopropyl)dodecylamine.