<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000007694-04-000101
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040714
<FILING-DATE>20040715
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND INC
<CIK>0000007694
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5160
<IRS-NUMBER>610122250
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>KY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
<CITY>COVINGTON
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41012
<PHONE>6068153333
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
<CITY>COVINGTON
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41012
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND OIL INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND OIL & REFINING CO
<DATE-CHANGED>19700806
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LIGOCKI KATHLEEN
<CIK>0001261013
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-02918
<FILM-NUMBER>04915559
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O TOWER AUTOMOTIVE INC
<STREET2>5211 CASCADE RD S.E. #300
<CITY>GRAND RAPIDS
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>49546
<PHONE>6168021600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O TOWER AUTOMOTIVE INC
<STREET2>5211 CASCADE RD. S.E. #300
<CITY>GRAND RAPIDS
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>49546
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001261013d20040715f3f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000007694</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ASHLAND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001261013</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIGOCKI KATHLEEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TOWER AUTOMOTIVE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>27175 HAGGERTY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NOVI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48377</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathleen  Ligocki</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
