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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001283574</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOMBARDI MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2400 SW 145 AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR</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, Operations &amp; Logistics</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50131</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            </securityTitle>
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            </transactionDate>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>52131</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>54131</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                    <value>52232</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.59</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-08-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold to cover tax obligations related to the vesting of performance-based and service-based restricted stock on August 20, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This grant of performance-based restricted stock will vest in full on the second business day following the public announcement of the Issuer's fiscal year 2010 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 period.</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, 2008, 2009 and 2010 (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">Forfeiture of 1/3 of the performance-based restricted stock granted on August 10, 2005 as a result of the Issuer not achieving a 10% cumulative annualized increase in earnings per diluted share during the measurement period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This stock option shall become exercisable in equal thirds over a three-year period on the Vesting Dates, but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable Vesting Date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MICHAEL LOMBARDI</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-08-20
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001283574
LOMBARDI MICHAEL
C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN
2400 SW 145 AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
MIRAMAR
FL
33027
0
1
0
0
EVP, Operations & Logistics
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2007-08-20
4
S
0
934
23.59
D
50131
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2007-08-20
4
A
0
2000
0
A
52131
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2007-08-20
4
A
0
2000
0
A
54131
D
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2007-08-20
4
D
0
1899
0
D
52232
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
23.59
2007-08-20
4
A
0
10000
0
A
2017-08-20
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
10000
10000
D
Shares sold to cover tax obligations related to the vesting of performance-based and service-based restricted stock on August 20, 2007.
This grant of performance-based restricted stock will vest in full on the second business day following the public announcement of the Issuer's fiscal year 2010 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 period.
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, 2008, 2009 and 2010 (each a "Vesting Date"), but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable Vesting Date.
Forfeiture of 1/3 of the performance-based restricted stock granted on August 10, 2005 as a result of the Issuer not achieving a 10% cumulative annualized increase in earnings per diluted share during the measurement period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2007.
This stock option shall become exercisable in equal thirds over a three-year period on the Vesting Dates, but only if the Reporting Person is still employed with the Issuer on the applicable Vesting Date.
MICHAEL LOMBARDI
2007-08-22