SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                     WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

               __________________________________



                            FORM 8-A

        FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
             PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                          STEPAN COMPANY                         
______________________________________________________________________________
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


             Delaware                        36-1823834          
_______________________________________   ___________________________________
(State of incorporation or organization)  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 22 W. Frontage Road
 Northfield, Illinois                          60093       
_______________________________________   ___________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)        

    Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act:

   Title of each class             Name of each exchange on which
   to be so registered:            each class is to be registered:

common stock, par value
 $1.00 per share                   New York Stock Exchange

5-1/2% convertible preferred              
stock, no par value                New York Stock Exchange     
______________________             __________________________

    Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act:

                              None                               
______________________________________________________________________________
                        (Title of class)


Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

     The capital stock of Stepan Company (the "Company")  to be
registered on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "Exchange"),
is the Company's common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the
"Common Stock") and the Company's 5-1/2% convertible preferred
stock, no par value (the "5-1/2% Convertible Preferred Stock").

The Common Stock

     Holders of shares of Common Stock do not have any preemptive
or preferential right to subscribe to or purchase any shares of
any class or any other securities of the corporation.

     Subject to the prior rights of the holders of all classes of
stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to
dividends, the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to
receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of
the assets of the Company legally available therefor, such
dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of
Directors.

     Upon the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation
or winding-up of the corporation, after the payment in full of
all preferential amounts to which the holders of all classes of
stock at the time outstanding having prior rights thereto shall
be entitled, the remainder of the assets of the Company shall be
distributed equally among the shares of Common Stock at the time
outstanding.

     At all meetings of the stockholders, each holder of record
of Common Stock shall be entitled to vote and have one vote for
each share held of record by such stockholder.

     Certain provisions in the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws may have the effect of delaying,
deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company. 
These provisions include (a) a classified Board of Directors and
(b) a requirement that only the Chairman of the Board, the Board
of Directors or the holders of not less than one-third of the
voting power of all the outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Company may call a special meeting of shareholders.

The 5-1/2% Convertible Preferred Stock

     The description of the 5-1/2% Convertible Preferred Stock is
incorporated herein by reference to Item 1 of the Company's Form
8-A dated August 13, 1992.

Item 2.  Exhibits.

     1.   All exhibits required by Instruction II to Item 2 have
          been supplied to the New York Stock Exchange.

                            SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

Date:  March 1, 1996          STEPAN COMPANY                


                              By: /s/ Jeffrey W. Bartlett     
                              Name: Jeffrey W. Bartlett
                              Title: Vice President, General
                                     Counsel and Secretary