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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CtjEaehhuxpnFUV9/RSuWBVaxEMVwd+yzK+UrbE+YTgB0TZ92DIbCEX2Wc8eDDys
 ZAm78Jy+UmcPAI2/SxzFaQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-030399.txt : 20101213
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-030399.hdr.sgml : 20101213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101213173318
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-030399
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Makal Jeffrey
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001497118

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07626
		FILM NUMBER:		101248854

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 E. WISCONSIN AVE.
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000310142
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL ORGANIC CHEMICALS [2860]
		IRS NUMBER:				390561070
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4142716755

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 737
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53201

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNIVERSAL FOODS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-09</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000310142</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SXT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001497118</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Makal Jeffrey</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>777 E. WISCONSIN AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>VP Controller &amp; CAO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1954.394</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>ESOP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10.623</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Savings Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents grant of restricted stock under Issuer's 2002 Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares of restricted stock held under Issuer's 2002 Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents shares held in Issuer's ESOP as of the end of the month immediately preceding this filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents shares held in Issuer's Savings Plan as of the end of the month immediately preceding this filing.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John L. Hammond, Attorney-in-Fact for Mr. Makal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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