Restructuring Charges (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Facility Positions		Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) Positions
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated fair values of the remaining long-lived assets	$ 19,000
Long lived asset impairments	14,500		$ 70,200
Long lived asset impairments recorded to date	$ 84,700
Position reduction due to restructuring | Positions	400				280
Number of positions eliminated due to restructuring | Positions	220
Impairment charge	$ 2,000
Non-cash loss on sale of business	12,000
Assets held for sale of land, buildings and equipment	9,600
Assets held for sale of inventory, receivable and other assets	21,400
Liabilities held for sale	4,100
Total restructuring costs incurred to date	141,000
Future restructuring costs, 2016	16,000
Estimated cost savings due to restructuring	30,000
Dollar value cost savings of sale of operations	22,000
Current estimated cost savings due to restructuring	27,000
Realized cost of savings	9,000		3,000
Pre-tax loss from discontinued operations	(471)		(11,496)		$ (1,418)
Proxy related cost			3,200
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	42,803		87,372	[1]	31,735
Discontinued Operations	43		10,998		0
Total Restructuring	42,846		98,370	[1]	31,735
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation	7,155		17,794		18,081
Long-lived asset impairment	14,551		63,431		4,176
Gain on asset sales	(1,301)		(602)		(3,019)
Write-down of inventory	6,098		1,914		1,840
Other Costs	16,300	[2]	4,835	[3]	10,657	[3]
Total	42,803		87,372	[1]	31,735
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Abstract]
Balance as of beginning of period	15,806		6,150
Expense activity	23,601		23,855	[1]
Cash spent	(26,907)		(12,662)	[1]
Translation adjustment	(1,328)		(1,537)
Balance as of beginning of period	11,172		15,806		6,150
Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected incremental savings in 2016	6,000
Maximum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected incremental savings in 2016	7,000
Selling & Administrative [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	36,705		85,458	[1]	29,895
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation	7,155		17,794		18,081
Long-lived asset impairment	14,551		63,431		4,176
Gain on asset sales	(1,301)		(602)		(3,019)
Write-down of inventory	0		0		0
Other Costs	16,300	[2]	4,835	[3]	10,657	[3]
Total	36,705		85,458	[1]	29,895
Cost of Products Sold [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	6,098		1,914		1,840
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation	0		0		0
Long-lived asset impairment	0		0		0
Gain on asset sales	0		0		0
Write-down of inventory	6,098		1,914		1,840
Other Costs	0		0		0
Total	$ 6,098		1,914		1,840
Flavors & Fragrances [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for consolidation | Facility	8
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	$ 37,309		83,871		22,284
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Total	$ 37,309		83,871		22,284
Flavors & Fragrances [Member] | North America [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for consolidation | Facility	4
Flavors & Fragrances [Member] | Europe [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for consolidation | Facility	4
Color [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for closure | Facility	1
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	$ 2,113		0		7,065
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Total	2,113		0		7,065
Asia Pacific [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	82		261		665
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Total	82		261		665
Corporate & Other [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total Continuing Operations	3,299		3,240		1,721
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Total	3,299		3,240		1,721
Employee Separations [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Abstract]
Balance as of beginning of period	14,909		4,562
Expense activity	6,853		18,951
Cash spent	(10,174)		(7,067)
Translation adjustment	(1,328)		(1,537)
Balance as of beginning of period	10,260		14,909		4,562
Other Costs [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Abstract]
Balance as of beginning of period	897		1,588
Expense activity	16,748		4,904	[1]
Cash spent	(16,773)		(5,595)	[1]
Translation adjustment	0		0
Balance as of beginning of period	$ 912		$ 897		$ 1,588

[1] In 2014, the Company recorded $3.2 million of proxy costs related to the 2014 proxy contest. These costs were included in this disclosure in the Company's 2014 Annual Report to Shareholders. These costs have been removed from the disclosure to conform to current year presentation

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

[3] Other costs include decommissioning costs, professional services, moving costs and other related costs.