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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-08-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001143801</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH STEPHEN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>14100 NW 60 AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI LAKES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33014</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; C.F.O.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6800</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>61566</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3334</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.2076</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>58232</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-08-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">New performance-based restricted stock (&quot;PBRS&quot;) awarded on August 10, 2005 pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. One third of the new PBRS is due to vest two years from the date of grant and the remaining two thirds is due to vest three years from the date of grant but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer at the time of vesting and the Issuer achieves certain earnings targets over the fiscal years that comprise the vesting measurement periods.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares sold to cover the estimated tax obligation related to (i) the vesting on August 10, 2005 of one-third of the PBRS awarded on March 10, 2004 and (ii) the restricted stock that vested on June 25, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Stock option granted pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, exercisable in thirds on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>STEPHEN J. SMITH</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-08-10
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001143801
SMITH STEPHEN J
C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.
14100 NW 60 AVENUE
MIAMI LAKES
FL
33014
0
1
0
0
EVP & C.F.O.
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2005-08-10
4
A
0
6800
0
A
61566
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2005-08-12
4
S
0
3334
24.2076
D
58232
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
23.4
2005-08-10
4
J
0
15000
0
A
2006-08-10
2015-08-10
Common Stock
15000
0
D
New performance-based restricted stock ("PBRS") awarded on August 10, 2005 pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. One third of the new PBRS is due to vest two years from the date of grant and the remaining two thirds is due to vest three years from the date of grant but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer at the time of vesting and the Issuer achieves certain earnings targets over the fiscal years that comprise the vesting measurement periods.
Shares sold to cover the estimated tax obligation related to (i) the vesting on August 10, 2005 of one-third of the PBRS awarded on March 10, 2004 and (ii) the restricted stock that vested on June 25, 2005.
Stock option granted pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, exercisable in thirds on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant.
STEPHEN J. SMITH
2005-08-12