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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-08-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001283575</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEFFENS JACQUES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2400 SW 145 AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIRAMAR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, GM - International</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2400</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>61454</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2400</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>63854</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>15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-08-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Performance-based restricted stock (&quot;PBRS&quot;) awarded August 21, 2006, pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.  The PBRS will vest in full on the second business day following the release of the Issuer's fiscal year 2009 financial results 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">Service-based restricted stock (&quot;SBRS&quot;) awarded August 21, 2006, pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.  The SBRS will vest in equal thirds over a three-year period on a date that is two business days following the release of the Issuer's financial results for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2007, 2008 and 2009 but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer at the time of vesting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Stock option granted pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, exercisable in equal thirds over a three-year period on a date that is two business days following the release of the Issuer's financial results for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2007, 2008 and 2009 but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer at the time of vesting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JACOBUS A.J. STEFFENS</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-08-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-08-21
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001283575
STEFFENS JACQUES
C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN
2400 SW 145 AVENUE
MIRAMAR
FL
33027
0
1
0
0
EVP, GM - International
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2006-08-21
4
A
0
2400
0
A
61454
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2006-08-21
4
A
0
2400
0
A
63854
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
15
2006-08-21
4
A
0
10000
0
A
2016-08-21
Common Stock
10000
0
D
Performance-based restricted stock ("PBRS") awarded August 21, 2006, pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.  The PBRS will vest in full on the second business day following the release of the Issuer's fiscal year 2009 financial results 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.
Service-based restricted stock ("SBRS") awarded August 21, 2006, pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.  The SBRS will vest in equal thirds over a three-year period on a date that is two business days following the release of the Issuer's financial results for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2007, 2008 and 2009 but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer at the time of vesting.
Stock option granted pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, exercisable in equal thirds over a three-year period on a date that is two business days following the release of the Issuer's financial results for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2007, 2008 and 2009 but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer at the time of vesting.
JACOBUS A.J. STEFFENS
2006-08-22