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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001036230</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEATTIE E SCOTT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>14100 NW 60 AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI LAKES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33014</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; Chief Exec Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>45000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.37</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>485600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Based Restricted Stock-Common Stock,$.01 Par Val</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>108800</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>594400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold to cover tax obligations related to the sale of performance-accelerated restricted stock that vested on March 22, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Performance-based restricted stock awarded on March 22, 2005 (&quot;PBRS&quot;).  The PBRS vest only if the Company's total shareholder return exceeds the total shareholder return of the Russell 2000 Index over a 3, 4, 5 or 6 year period from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>SCOTT E. BEATTIE</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-03-22
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001036230
BEATTIE E SCOTT
14100 NW 60 AVE
MIAMI LAKES
FL
33014
1
1
0
0
Chairman & Chief Exec Officer
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2005-03-22
4
S
0
45000
23.37
D
485600
D
Performance Based Restricted Stock-Common Stock,$.01 Par Val
2005-03-22
4
A
0
108800
0
A
594400
D
Shares sold to cover tax obligations related to the sale of performance-accelerated restricted stock that vested on March 22, 2005.
Performance-based restricted stock awarded on March 22, 2005 ("PBRS").  The PBRS vest only if the Company's total shareholder return exceeds the total shareholder return of the Russell 2000 Index over a 3, 4, 5 or 6 year period from the date of grant.
SCOTT E. BEATTIE
2005-03-23