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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-08-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001482401</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PIRARD PIERRE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2400 S.W. 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-Prod Innov &amp; Glbl Supp Chn</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2760</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>79613</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>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>103013</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>117513</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.63</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>29000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-08-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>29000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.63</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>60900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-08-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60900</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of service-based restricted stock units granted on August 13, 2012, August 12, 2013, and August 21, 2014.  The price reflected is the closing market price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the vesting date, August 10, 2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 39,401 service-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This grant of service-based restricted stock units will vest in 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, 2016, 2017 and 2018, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 62,801 service-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This grant of service-based restricted stock units will vest in full on the date that is two business days following the public announcement of the Issuer's financial results for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Includes 77,301 service-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">This stock option shall become exercisable in 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, 2016, 2017 and 2018, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">This stock option shall become exercisable in full on the date that is two business days following the public announcement of the Issuer's financial results for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Pierre Pirard</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2015-08-10
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001482401
PIRARD PIERRE
C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.
2400 S.W. 145 AVENUE
MIRAMAR
FL
33027
0
1
0
0
EVP-Prod Innov & Glbl Supp Chn
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-08-10
4
F
0
2760
9.63
D
79613
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-08-10
4
A
0
23400
0
A
103013
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-08-10
4
A
0
14500
0
A
117513
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
9.63
2015-08-10
4
A
0
29000
0
A
2025-08-10
Common Stock, $.01 par value
29000
29000
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
9.63
2015-08-10
4
A
0
60900
0
A
2025-08-10
Common Stock, $.01 par value
60900
60900
D
Represents shares withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of service-based restricted stock units granted on August 13, 2012, August 12, 2013, and August 21, 2014.  The price reflected is the closing market price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the vesting date, August 10, 2015.
Includes 39,401 service-based restricted stock units.
This grant of service-based restricted stock units will vest in 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, 2016, 2017 and 2018, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.
Includes 62,801 service-based restricted stock units.
This grant of service-based restricted stock units will vest in full on the date that is two business days following the public announcement of the Issuer's financial results for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.
Includes 77,301 service-based restricted stock units.
This stock option shall become exercisable in 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, 2016, 2017 and 2018, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.
This stock option shall become exercisable in full on the date that is two business days following the public announcement of the Issuer's financial results for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, but, subject to certain exceptions, only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable vesting date.
Pierre Pirard
2015-08-12