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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001132302</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMAS JW NEVIL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2400 SW 145 AVENUE</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>2006-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9565</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>2006-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8565</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold pursuant to a 10b5-1 sales plan adopted on February 10, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Does not include:  (i) 11,119 shares of common stock owned by Sandringham Capital Services Corp., a company controlled by Mr. Thomas, (ii) 137,425 shares of common stock held by Marchoak, Inc., a company owned by Mayfront Trust, of which Mr. Thomas' spouse is one of four trustees, (iii) 3,594 shares of common stock held in trusts for the benefit of Mr. Thomas' children and for which he serves as co-trustee with his spouse, (iv) 2,925 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Thomas' spouse, (v) 23,256 shares of common stock owned by S.E.T. Holdings Corporation, a corporation controlled by Mr. Thomas' spouse, and (vi) 60,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options.  Mr. Thomas disclaims beneficial ownership as to the shares of common stock owned by his spouse, Marchoak, Inc., the trusts of which he and his spouse serve as trustees and S.E.T. Holdings Corporation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. W. NEVIL THOMAS</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-02-14
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001132302
THOMAS JW NEVIL
ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.
2400 SW 145 AVENUE
MIRAMAR
FL
33027
1
0
0
0
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2006-02-14
4
S
0
2000
22.4
D
9565
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2006-02-14
4
S
0
1000
23
D
8565
D
Shares sold pursuant to a 10b5-1 sales plan adopted on February 10, 2006.
Does not include:  (i) 11,119 shares of common stock owned by Sandringham Capital Services Corp., a company controlled by Mr. Thomas, (ii) 137,425 shares of common stock held by Marchoak, Inc., a company owned by Mayfront Trust, of which Mr. Thomas' spouse is one of four trustees, (iii) 3,594 shares of common stock held in trusts for the benefit of Mr. Thomas' children and for which he serves as co-trustee with his spouse, (iv) 2,925 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Thomas' spouse, (v) 23,256 shares of common stock owned by S.E.T. Holdings Corporation, a corporation controlled by Mr. Thomas' spouse, and (vi) 60,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options.  Mr. Thomas disclaims beneficial ownership as to the shares of common stock owned by his spouse, Marchoak, Inc., the trusts of which he and his spouse serve as trustees and S.E.T. Holdings Corporation.
J. W. NEVIL THOMAS
2006-02-15