Syra by Stephenson is a Cairo Skincare Brand 125 years in the Making

Ask anyone who has spent time on Abdel Khalek Tharwat Street in Downtown Cairo, and they'll likely know Zoheir Samman - not because he advertises himself, but because he has simply always been there. For decades, he has stood behind the counter of Stephenson's Pharmacy, one of the oldest in Cairo, in a space so carefully preserved it feels as though time itself has not yet discovered its old wooden doors and the world within it. This was something he learned from his own father, Dr. Ihsan Samman - the man who first brought the pharmacy into the Samman family when he purchased it in the 1940s, and who made the first promise never to change it.

The pharmacy was founded by British chemist George Stephenson in 1899. Its classic swinging doors open onto wooden cabinets shipped from England in the early 1900s, glass bottles with handwritten labels and the familiar Samman smile.

Today, it is still being run by Zoheir. His three children, Clara, Patricia and Christopher Samman - the third generation of Stephenson’s keepers - have recently joined the family business with their newly launched extension of the pharmacy’s products: Syra.

The name comes from the Arabic masyra - meaning journey, or lived path. It is a fitting name, as Syra is a skincare brand rooted in the same philosophy of craft and care that has defined their family’s pharmacy for over eight decades. It was chosen deliberately to honour the continuation of what their grandfather started and what they’ve seen their father carry. It also rhymes with Syria - the country their family immigrated from. It is a name, like the brand it represents, that knows where it comes from.

The three siblings each came to Syra from different places and varying careers - none related to pharmaceuticals or skincare. "As we grew older, we saw how everything on this street was being modernised, and how our father was walking in the opposite direction: he was so insistent on keeping things as they are," says Clara Sammar. "The pharmacy began to mean something deeper to us — he drew our attention to the history behind it, how our grandfather first started this journey and why it's important to stick to our roots."

Syra’s product line reflects that foundational legacy in texture and intention. Every ingredient, package, and product is a direct descendant of the original formulas their grandfather created in the laboratory behind the pharmacy decades before them. They sell all-natural and organic body oils, moisturisers, and serums suited to every ailment and every need. Their best seller, however, is a contemporary addition - body butter candles. As the wax melts down into scents of vanilla, cinnamon, and pomegranate, it transforms into a nourishing oil that can be applied directly to the skin - a modern, almost alchemical idea that feels fitting for a brand born inside a nineteenth-century apothecary.The products blend old and new, while respecting the long legacy from which they were born. “We want them to feel that there is something real and natural behind it,” says Christopher Samman. “Even if they’ve never heard of Stephenson’s Pharmacy, we hope they can sense that this isn’t just another brand. It comes from years of care, trust, and relationships built over time.”

Syra also carries medicinal oils drawn straight from the pharmacy's roots: ostrich oil for muscle pain and joint stiffness - a remedy that has been used in Egypt for centuries - and rosemary and cannabis oil for hair growth.

Their upcoming line of products - a series of shampoos and shower gels - is formulated from the same original recipe their grandfather once sold at the pharmacy counter years before them: a direct line connecting what Stephenson’s was and what Syra is becoming. “We saw how much of his heart was in it, and we realised we could contribute in our own way, while staying true to everything he had built,” says Patricia Samman.

At the heart of Syra always remains their father, Zoheir. "Syra wouldn't exist without him," says Clara. "He was the one who had the idea, who spent years crafting, testing, and perfecting these products, and he's still very much involved - guiding, creating, and shaping what we do every day. He's not just part of the story; he's the forefront of it." His son, Christopher, echoes this thought, saying simply, “we came in to support that vision, to build around it and help bring it to life in a new way - but at its core, this is his.” At the end of the day, Syra is a brand proudly built on legacy: a legacy started by a grandfather, maintained by a father, and rejuvenated by a new generation - or, as Patricia likes to say, “executed by his three minions.”

“We hope Syra tells a story about believing in vision,” Clara says, “and understanding that sometimes, that vision spans generations.” That vision - timeless formulas inspired by raw ingredients and age-old wisdom - has formed the basis of Stephenson’s Pharmacy for decades, and with Syra, it forms the foundation of its future.

Syra products can be found along the old wooden cabinets of Stephenson’s Pharmacy, or online at @syra.bystephenson on Instagram.