<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-12-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094056</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEPHAN CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001014424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARONE RICHARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE CHAGRIN HIGHLANDS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2000 AUBURN DRIVE SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44122</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares of Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>107601</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Merlin Partners, LP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares of Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Ancora Partners, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares of Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.99</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-09-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-09-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Shares of Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5062</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10124</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.56</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Shares of Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5062</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10124</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Barone is the majority owner of Ancora Advisors, LLC, which is General Partner of Merlin Partners, LP.  Further Mr. Barone is the Managing Partner of Ancora Partners, LLC, which is an affiliate of Ancora Advisors, LLC.  Reported shares do not include shares held by accounts managed by Mr. Barone that are charged a management fee only.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of these shares shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for pusposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard A. Barone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-12-04
0
0000094056
STEPHAN CO
TSC
0001014424
BARONE RICHARD A
ONE CHAGRIN HIGHLANDS
2000 AUBURN DRIVE SUITE 300
CLEVELAND
OH
44122
1
0
0
0
Shares of Common Stock
2007-12-04
4
P
0
5700
3.25
A
107601
I
By Merlin Partners, LP
Shares of Common Stock
10000
I
By Ancora Partners, LLC
Shares of Common Stock
40000
D
Stock Options
3.99
2006-09-29
2010-09-29
Shares of Common Stock
5062
10124
D
Stock Options
3.56
2007-06-30
2011-06-30
Shares of Common Stock
5062
10124
D
Mr. Barone is the majority owner of Ancora Advisors, LLC, which is General Partner of Merlin Partners, LP.  Further Mr. Barone is the Managing Partner of Ancora Partners, LLC, which is an affiliate of Ancora Advisors, LLC.  Reported shares do not include shares held by accounts managed by Mr. Barone that are charged a management fee only.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of these shares shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for pusposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.
/s/ Richard A. Barone
2007-12-05