<?xml version="1.0"?>
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    <periodOfReport>2010-08-16</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
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            <rptOwnerCik>0001229134</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RONKIN JOEL B</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>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, GM - North America</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-17</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-08-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24900</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15713</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-10-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-10-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <value>2010-10-06</value>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Forfeiture of performance-based restricted stock granted on August 20, 2007 as a result of the Issuer not achieving the required cumulative earnings per share targets during the measurement period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares sold to cover tax obligations related to the vesting of various service-based restricted stock awards on August 16, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This grant of service-based restricted stock 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, 2011, 2012 and 2013 (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="F4">Reflects the weighted average price of 17,773 shares of common stock of the Issuer sold by the Reporting Person in multiple transactions on August 17, 2010, with the sale price ranging from $16.01 to $16.40 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="F5">This stock option shall become exercisable in equal thirds over a three-year period on the applicable Vesting Date, but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on such applicable Vesting Date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joel B. Ronkin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-08-16
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001229134
RONKIN JOEL B
C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.
2400 SW 145 AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
MIRAMAR
FL
33027
0
1
0
0
EVP, GM - North America
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2010-08-16
4
M
0
15713
8.4375
A
175671
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2010-08-16
4
S
0
15713
16
D
159958
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2010-08-16
4
D
0
9100
0
D
150858
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2010-08-16
4
S
0
6394
16.15
D
144464
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2010-08-16
4
A
0
21300
0
A
165764
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2010-08-17
4
S
0
17773
16.09
D
147991
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2010-08-17
4
M
0
7037
8.4375
A
155028
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
16.15
2010-08-16
4
A
0
24900
0
A
2020-08-16
Common Stock
24900
24900
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
8.4375
2010-08-16
4
M
0
15713
0
D
2001-10-06
2010-10-06
Common Stock
15713
7037
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
8.4375
2010-08-17
4
M
0
7037
0
D
2001-10-06
2010-10-06
Common Stock
7037
0
D
Forfeiture of performance-based restricted stock granted on August 20, 2007 as a result of the Issuer not achieving the required cumulative earnings per share targets during the measurement period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2010.
Shares sold to cover tax obligations related to the vesting of various service-based restricted stock awards on August 16, 2010.
This grant of service-based restricted stock 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, 2011, 2012 and 2013 (each a "Vesting Date"), but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable Vesting Date.
Reflects the weighted average price of 17,773 shares of common stock of the Issuer sold by the Reporting Person in multiple transactions on August 17, 2010, with the sale price ranging from $16.01 to $16.40 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.
This stock option shall become exercisable in equal thirds over a three-year period on the applicable Vesting Date, but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on such applicable Vesting Date.
Joel B. Ronkin
2010-08-18