Restructuring (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) Positions		Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Position reduction due to restructuring | Positions					377
Number of positions eliminated due to restructuring | Positions					180
Total restructuring costs incurred to date	$ 115,400				$ 115,400
Savings recognized in restructuring plan	1,600				3,100				$ 3,000
Estimated cost savings due to restructuring	30,000
Estimated cost savings in 2015	7,000
Expected incremental savings in 2016	6,000				6,000
Estimated fair values of the remaining long-lived assets	22,000				22,000
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	9,622		$ 11,568		16,737		$ 57,755
Discontinued Operations	85		1,411		114		7,946
Total Restructuring	9,707		12,979		16,851		65,701
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation	1,796		1,024		3,704		12,291
Long-lived asset impairment	3,665		8,033		7,480		42,263
Gain on asset sales					(1,301)		(602)
Write-down of inventory	140				281
Other costs	4,021	[1]	2,511	[2]	6,573	[1]	3,803	[2]
Future restructuring costs, current year	16,000
Future restructuring costs, 2016	9,000				9,000
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Abstract]
Balance as of December 31, 2014					15,806
Expense activity					10,443
Cash spent					(12,321)
Translation adjustment					(967)
Balance as of June 30, 2015	12,961				12,961				15,806
Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated cost savings in through the end of 2015	9,000				9,000
Expected incremental savings in 2017	8,000				8,000
Maximum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated cost savings in through the end of 2015	10,000				10,000
Expected incremental savings in 2017	9,000				9,000
Selling & Administrative [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	9,482		11,568		16,456		57,755
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation	1,796		1,024		3,704		12,291
Long-lived asset impairment	3,665		8,033		7,480		42,263
Gain on asset sales					(1,301)		(602)
Write-down of inventory	0				0
Other costs	4,021	[1]	2,511	[2]	6,573	[1]	3,803	[2]
Cost of Products Sold [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	140		0		281		0
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation	0		0		0		0
Long-lived asset impairment	0		0		0		0
Gain on asset sales					0		0
Write-down of inventory	140				281
Other costs	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[1]	0	[2]
Flavors & Fragrances [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	7,191		9,068		13,020		54,051
Color [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	1,422		0		1,583		0
Corporate & Other [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	1,009		2,500		2,134		3,704
2014 Proxy Contest [Member]
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Other costs			$ 2,200				$ 3,100
Employee Separations [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Abstract]
Balance as of December 31, 2014					14,909
Expense activity					3,313
Cash spent					(4,977)
Translation adjustment					(967)
Balance as of June 30, 2015	12,278				12,278				14,909
Other Costs [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Abstract]
Balance as of December 31, 2014					897
Expense activity					7,130
Cash spent					(7,344)
Translation adjustment					0
Balance as of June 30, 2015	$ 683				$ 683				$ 897

[1] Other costs include decommissioning costs, professional services, temporary labor, moving costs and other related costs.

[2] Other costs include decommissioning, professional services, personnel moving costs, other related costs and 2014 proxy contest costs.