Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	$ 344,533	$ 364,504	$ 1,036,768	$ 1,105,002
Total Revenue	355,290	377,514	1,071,292	1,142,188
Operating income (loss)	43,220	36,094	134,733	94,424
Interest expense	4,295	4,016	12,316	11,866
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	38,925	32,078	122,417	82,558
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	344,533	364,504	1,036,768	1,105,002
Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	10,757	13,010	34,524	37,186
Flavors & Fragrances [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenue	207,373	216,635	617,983	648,458
Flavors & Fragrances [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	201,049	209,638	598,226	627,766
Operating income (loss)	31,369	30,613	94,354	95,001
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	31,369	30,613	94,354	95,001
Flavors & Fragrances [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	6,324	6,997	19,757	20,692
Color [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenue	116,446	128,126	356,310	393,351
Color [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	112,047	122,140	341,662	376,995
Operating income (loss)	22,859	28,799	73,806	89,299
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	22,859	28,799	73,806	89,299
Color [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	4,399	5,986	14,648	16,356
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenue	31,471	32,753	96,999	100,379
Corporate and Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	31,437	32,726	96,880	100,241
Operating income (loss)	(11,008)	(23,318)	(33,427)	(89,876)
Interest expense	4,295	4,016	12,316	11,866
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(15,303)	(27,334)	(45,743)	(101,742)
Corporate and Other [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	$ 34	$ 27	$ 119	$ 138