<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-25</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229134</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RONKIN JOEL B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp; Chief Adm. Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-25</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5000</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>22536</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>13.04</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-25</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>10000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-06-25</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-06-25</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>10000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>10000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock awarded on June 25, 2003. Shares vest in thirds over a three-year period on the anniversary date of the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 1,000 shares held with spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Stock option granted pursuant to Issuer's 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, exercisable in thirds over a three-year period on the anniversary date of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JOEL B. RONKIN</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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4
2003-06-25
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001229134
RONKIN JOEL B
0
1
0
0
SVP & Chief Adm. Officer
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2003-06-25
4
A
0
5000
0
A
22536
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
13.04
2003-06-25
4
A
0
10000
0
A
2004-06-25
2013-06-25
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
10000
10000
D
Restricted stock awarded on June 25, 2003. Shares vest in thirds over a three-year period on the anniversary date of the grant.
Includes 1,000 shares held with spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship.
Stock option granted pursuant to Issuer's 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, exercisable in thirds over a three-year period on the anniversary date of the grant.
JOEL B. RONKIN
2003-06-25