The invention relates to the use of ether group-containing polymers as solubilizers, especially in cosmetics, drugs, food items, food supplements and feed stuff, ideally in the production of plant protectives. The inventive polymers are obtained by copolymerization of (A) optionally at least one ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid and/or at least one anhydride derived from a monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid, (B) at least one hydrophobic monomer which has aromatic functions or aliphatic functions or aromatic and aliphatic functions, (C) at least one allyl alcohol alkoxylate, (D) optionally other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers.