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

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    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000095052</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELIZABETH ARDEN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RDEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001036230</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEATTIE E SCOTT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2400 SW 145 AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIRAMAR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionDate>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-05-27</value>
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                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>950</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15538</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1088581</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>38551</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1127132</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10544</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>133200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1249788</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>49209</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1298997</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>174579</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Family Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F13"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.63</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>165200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F14"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-08-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>165200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>165200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Gift to unaffiliated third parties.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 106,867 service-based restricted stock units and 59,837 performance-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Transfer to Family Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Forfeiture of performance-based restricted stock units granted on August 21, 2014 as a result of the Issuer not achieving specified performance targets for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Includes 61,734 service-based restricted stock units and 19,267 performance-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represents shares withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of (i) service-based restricted stock units granted on August 13, 2012, August 12, 2013 and August 21, 2014, and (ii) performance-based restricted stock units granted on August 12, 2012 and August 21, 2014.  The price reflected is the closing market price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the vesting date, August 10, 2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Shares received pursuant to the Issuer's 2015 Management Bonus Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Represents shares withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations arising from the issuance of shares described in footnote 7.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">This grant of service-based restricted stock units will vest in equal thirds over a three-year period on the dates that are two business days following the public announcement of the Issuer's financial results for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (each a &quot;Vesting Date&quot;), but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Includes 194,934 service-based restricted stock units and 19,267 performance-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">The actual number of shares of common stock payable pursuant to this grant of performance-based restricted stock units shall be determined based on the Issuer's achievement of specified financial targets for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and such shares shall be issuable in three equal annual installments on each applicable Vesting Date, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on each applicable Vesting Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">Includes 194,934 service-based restricted stock units and 68,476 performance-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F13">Shares held in family trust of which Reporting Person's spouse is trustee, and spouse and minor children are beneficiaries.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F14">This stock option shall become exercisable in thirds over a three-year period on each applicable Vesting Date, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on each applicable Vesting Date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Beatriz L. Koltis, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2015-08-10
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001036230
BEATTIE E SCOTT
C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.
2400 SW 145 AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
MIRAMAR
FL
33027
1
1
0
0
Chairman, President & CEO
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2014-12-22
5
G
0
E
1550
0
D
1136769
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2014-12-22
5
G
0
E
2100
0
D
1134669
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-05-08
5
G
0
E
700
0
D
1133969
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-05-27
5
G
0
E
950
0
D
1133019
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-08-10
4
D
0
28900
0
D
1104119
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-08-10
4
F
0
15538
9.63
D
1088581
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-08-10
4
A
0
38551
0
A
1127132
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-08-10
4
F
0
10544
9.63
D
1116588
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-08-10
4
A
0
133200
0
A
1249788
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-08-10
4
A
0
49209
0
A
1298997
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
174579
I
Family Trust
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
9.63
2015-08-10
4
A
0
165200
0
A
2025-08-10
Common Stock, $.01 par value
165200
165200
D
Gift to unaffiliated third parties.
Includes 106,867 service-based restricted stock units and 59,837 performance-based restricted stock units.
Transfer to Family Trust.
Forfeiture of performance-based restricted stock units granted on August 21, 2014 as a result of the Issuer not achieving specified performance targets for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015.
Includes 61,734 service-based restricted stock units and 19,267 performance-based restricted stock units.
Represents shares withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of (i) service-based restricted stock units granted on August 13, 2012, August 12, 2013 and August 21, 2014, and (ii) performance-based restricted stock units granted on August 12, 2012 and August 21, 2014.  The price reflected is the closing market price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the vesting date, August 10, 2015.
Shares received pursuant to the Issuer's 2015 Management Bonus Plan.
Represents shares withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations arising from the issuance of shares described in footnote 7.
This grant of service-based restricted stock units will vest in equal thirds over a three-year period on the dates that are two business days following the public announcement of the Issuer's financial results for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (each a "Vesting Date"), but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.
Includes 194,934 service-based restricted stock units and 19,267 performance-based restricted stock units.
The actual number of shares of common stock payable pursuant to this grant of performance-based restricted stock units shall be determined based on the Issuer's achievement of specified financial targets for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and such shares shall be issuable in three equal annual installments on each applicable Vesting Date, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on each applicable Vesting Date.
Includes 194,934 service-based restricted stock units and 68,476 performance-based restricted stock units.
Shares held in family trust of which Reporting Person's spouse is trustee, and spouse and minor children are beneficiaries.
This stock option shall become exercisable in thirds over a three-year period on each applicable Vesting Date, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on each applicable Vesting Date.
Beatriz L. Koltis, Attorney-in-Fact
2015-08-12