Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,672.7	$ 3,680.1	$ 3,505.1
Cost of products sold	2,193.0	2,194.7	2,024.0
Gross profit	1,479.7	1,485.4	1,481.1
Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses	1,015.0	1,019.0	942.3
Special charges	1.8	5.6	11.3
Operating profit	462.9	460.8	527.5
Other expense:
Interest expense, net	33.3	33.5	32.5
Miscellaneous expense, net	4.7	1.4	2.4
Total other expense	38.0	34.9	34.9
Income before income taxes	424.9	425.9	492.6
Income tax expense	94.5	76.3	170.9
Net income	$ 330.4	$ 349.6	$ 321.7
Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 8.32	$ 8.54	$ 7.46
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	39.7	40.9	43.1
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 8.29	$ 8.52	$ 7.43
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	39.8	41.0	43.3
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.52	$ 0.52
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 330.4	$ 349.6	$ 321.7
Other comprehensive income (loss) items:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(11.5)	(25.2)	19.0
Defined benefit plans, net of tax	(25.1)	21.2	20.7
Other comprehensive (loss) income items, net of tax	(36.6)	(4.0)	39.7
Comprehensive income	$ 293.8	$ 345.6	$ 361.4