Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,680.1	$ 3,505.1	$ 3,291.3
Cost of products sold	2,193.3	2,023.9	1,855.1
Gross profit	1,486.8	1,481.2	1,436.2
Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses	1,026.6	951.1	946.0
Special charge	5.6	11.3	15.0
Operating profit	454.6	518.8	475.2
Other expense (income):
Interest expense, net	33.5	32.5	32.2
Miscellaneous income, net	(4.8)	(6.3)	(1.6)
Total other expense	28.7	26.2	30.6
Income before income taxes	425.9	492.6	444.6
Income tax expense	76.3	170.9	153.8
Net income	$ 349.6	$ 321.7	$ 290.8
Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 8.54	$ 7.46	$ 6.67
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	40.9	43.1	43.5
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 8.52	$ 7.43	$ 6.63
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	41.0	43.3	43.8
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.52	$ 0.52
Other comprehensive income (loss) items:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$ (25.2)	$ 19.0	$ (5.6)
Defined benefit plans, net	21.2	20.7	(23.4)
Other comprehensive (loss) income items, net of tax	(4.0)	39.7	(29.0)
Comprehensive income	$ 345.6	$ 361.4	$ 261.8