UNITED STATES
                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        Washington, D.C. 20549

                             FORM 12b-25

                     NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

SEC FILE NUMBER: 1-4436           CUSIP NUMBER: 858603103000

(Check one):
(X)Form 10-K  ( )Form 20-K   ( )Form 11-K   ( )Form 10-Q   ( )Form N-SAR

                                   December 31, 2002
              For Period Ended:_____________________________
              ( ) Transition Report on Form 10-K
              ( ) Transition Report on Form 20-F
              ( ) Transition Report on Form 11-K
              ( ) Transition Report on Form 10-Q
              ( ) Transition Report on From N-SAR
              For the Transition Period Ended:______________

Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the
Commission has verified any information contained herein.

If the notification relates to a portion of the filing
checked above, identify the Item(s) to which the
notification relates:_______________________________________

PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION

                      THE STEPHAN CO.
____________________________________________________________
Full Name of Registrant

____________________________________________________________
Former Name if Applicable

                   1850 WEST McNAB ROAD
____________________________________________________________
Address of Principal Executive Office(Street and Number)

             FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA  33309
____________________________________________________________
City, State and Zip Code








PART II - RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)

If the subject report could not be filed without
unreasonable effort or expense and the registrant seeks
relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following should be
completed. (Check box if appropriate)

    | (a) The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part
    |     III of this form could not be eliminated without
    |     unreasonable effort or expense;
    |
    | (b) The subject annual report, semi-annual report,
(x) |     transition report on Form 10-K, Form 20-F, 11-K,
    |     Form N-SAR, or portion thereof, will be filed on
    |     or before the fifteenth calendar day following the
    |     prescribed due date; or the subject quarterly
    |     report of transition and report on Form 10-Q, or
    |     portion thereof will be filed on or before the
    |     fifth calendar day following the prescribed due
    |     date; and
    |
    | (c) The accountant's statement or other exhibit
    |     required by Rule 12b-25(c) has been attached if
    |     applicable.

PART III - NARRATIVE

State below in reasonable detail the reasons why the Form
10-K, 11-K, 10-Q, N-SAR, or the transition report or portion
thereof, could not be filed within the prescribed time
period.  (Attach Extra Sheets if Needed)


In mid-January, 2003, due to medical reasons, our Chief
Financial Officer was required to take a leave of absence.
As a result of this absence, the preparation of information
for the timely completion of the annual audit has been
delayed, thus the Company can not file its Annual Report on
Form 10-K by March 31, 2003 without unreasonable effort or
expense.


PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION


(1) Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard
to this notification.

      David Spiegel              (954)         971-0600
____________________________  ___________  ________________
          (Name)              (Area Code) (Telephone Number)




(2) Have all other periodic reports required under Section
13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or
Section 30 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports) been filed? If
answer is no, identify report(s).
                                             (X)Yes ( )No
____________________________________________________________





(3) Is it anticipated that any significant change in results
of operations from the corresponding period for the last
fiscal year will be reflected by the earnings statements to
be included in the subject report or portion thereof?

                                            (X)Yes ( )No

If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both
narratively and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state
the reasons why a reasonable estimate of the results cannot
be made.

============================================================

                       THE STEPHAN CO.
     __________________________________________________
        (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

      March 31, 2003           /s/ David Spiegel
Date__________________ By_______________________________








PART IV, Item (3)  Additional Information:


     While the results of operations for the year ended
December 31, 2002 are expected to be consistent with the
prior fiscal year, as previously stated in prior quarterly
filings on Form 10-Q, the Company anticipates a material
write down of goodwill and other intangible assets as a
result of the implementation of SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets".  Although our independent
certified public accountants have not completed their audit,
the Company expects that the impairment loss will be in the
range of $7,000,000 to $9,000,000.