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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-08-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001036232</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAURAN RICHARD C W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2400 SW 145 AVENUE, 2ND FLR.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIRAMAR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>42240</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>46.399</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1539506</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31435</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47.082</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1508071</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold pursuant to a 10b5-1 Trading Plan adopted by the Reporting Person on December 7, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects the weighted average price of 42,240 shares of common stock of the Issuer sold in multiple transactions on August 9, 2012 with the sale price ranging from $46.065 to $46.748 per share.  The Reporting Person undertakes to provide upon request by the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects the weighted average price of 31,435 shares of common stock of the Issuer sold in multiple transactions on August 9, 2012 with the sale price ranging from $46.75 to $47.50 per share.  The Reporting Person undertakes to provide upon request by the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Oscar E. Marina, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2012-08-09
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001036232
MAURAN RICHARD C W
ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.
2400 SW 145 AVENUE, 2ND FLR.
MIRAMAR
FL
33027
1
0
0
0
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2012-08-09
4
S
0
42240
46.399
D
1539506
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2012-08-09
4
S
0
31435
47.082
D
1508071
D
Shares sold pursuant to a 10b5-1 Trading Plan adopted by the Reporting Person on December 7, 2011.
Reflects the weighted average price of 42,240 shares of common stock of the Issuer sold in multiple transactions on August 9, 2012 with the sale price ranging from $46.065 to $46.748 per share.  The Reporting Person undertakes to provide upon request by the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
Reflects the weighted average price of 31,435 shares of common stock of the Issuer sold in multiple transactions on August 9, 2012 with the sale price ranging from $46.75 to $47.50 per share.  The Reporting Person undertakes to provide upon request by the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
Oscar E. Marina, Attorney in Fact
2012-08-10