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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-08-21</periodOfReport>

    <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>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1039929</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8710</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1031219</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>74300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1105519</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>57800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1163319</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>172479</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Thru Family Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.26</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>91800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-08-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>91800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>91800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Forfeiture of performance-based restricted stock units granted on August 12, 2013 as a result of the Issuer not achieving specified earnings per diluted share and net sales targets for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 32,566 service-based restricted stock units and 2,037 performance-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">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 15, 2011, August 13, 2012, and August 12, 2013, and (ii) performance-based restricted stock units granted on August 12, 2012.  The price reflected is the closing market price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the vesting date, August 21, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">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, 2015, 2016 and 2017 (each a &quot;Vesting Date&quot;), but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Includes 106,866 service-based restricted stock units and 2,037 performance-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">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, 2015, and such shares shall be issuable in three equal annual installments on each applicable Vesting Date, but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on each applicable Vesting Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Includes 106,866 service-based restricted stock units and 59,837 performance-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Shares held in family trust of which Reporting Person's spouse is trustee, and spouse and minor children are beneficiaries.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">This stock option shall become exercisable in thirds over a three-year period on each applicable Vesting Date, but 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>2014-08-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-08-21
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
2014-08-21
4
D
0
28500
0
D
1039929
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2014-08-21
4
F
0
8710
17.26
D
1031219
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2014-08-21
4
A
0
74300
0
A
1105519
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2014-08-21
4
A
0
57800
0
A
1163319
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
172479
I
Thru Family Trust
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
17.26
2014-08-21
4
A
0
91800
0
A
2024-08-21
Common Stock, $.01 par value
91800
91800
D
Forfeiture of performance-based restricted stock units granted on August 12, 2013 as a result of the Issuer not achieving specified earnings per diluted share and net sales targets for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014.
Includes 32,566 service-based restricted stock units and 2,037 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 15, 2011, August 13, 2012, and August 12, 2013, and (ii) performance-based restricted stock units granted on August 12, 2012.  The price reflected is the closing market price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the vesting date, August 21, 2014.
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, 2015, 2016 and 2017 (each a "Vesting Date"), but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.
Includes 106,866 service-based restricted stock units and 2,037 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, 2015, and such shares shall be issuable in three equal annual installments on each applicable Vesting Date, but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on each applicable Vesting Date.
Includes 106,866 service-based restricted stock units and 59,837 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 only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on each applicable Vesting Date.
Beatriz L. Koltis, Attorney-in-Fact
2014-08-25