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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-08</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>C/O BCC ADVISORS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>130 ADELAIDE STREET, WEST, SUITE 2900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TORONTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>M5H 3P5</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ONTARIO, CANADA</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>2006-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11565</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1997-06-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-06-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">(1) 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>2006-02-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-02-08
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001132302
THOMAS JW NEVIL
C/O BCC ADVISORS, INC.
130 ADELAIDE STREET, WEST, SUITE 2900
TORONTO
A6
M5H 3P5
ONTARIO, CANADA
1
0
0
0
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
2006-02-08
4
X
0
7500
7
A
11565
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
7
2006-02-08
4
X
0
7500
0
D
1997-06-25
2006-06-25
Common Stock
7500
0
D
(1) 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
2006-02-10