Restructuring (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Positions	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($) Facilities	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Positions
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated fair values of the remaining long-lived assets		$ 20,000			$ 20,000
Long lived asset impairments		$ 500	$ 3,800
Long lived asset impairments recorded to date					$ 85,200
Position reduction due to restructuring | Positions		400
Number of positions eliminated due to restructuring | Positions					268
Non-cash loss on sale of business		$ 11,000
Assets held for sale of land, building and equipment		10,100			$ 10,100
Assets held for sale of inventory, receivable and other assets		21,900			21,900
Liabilities held for sale		3,700			3,700
Total restructuring costs incurred to date		144,800			144,800
Estimated cost savings due to restructuring		30,000
Annual cost of savings		27,000
Realized cost of savings			9,000	$ 3,000
Expected incremental saving realized		2,000
Pre-tax loss from discontinued operations		(31)	(294)
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		3,342	7,115
Discontinued operations		0	29
Total restructuring		3,342	7,144
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		131	1,908
Long-lived asset impairment		471	3,815
Gain on asset sales			(1,301)
Write-down of inventory		644	141
Other costs	[1]	2,096	2,552
Future restructuring costs, 2016		12,000			12,000
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Abstract]
Balance as of beginning of period		11,172
Expense activity		2,227
Cash spent		(4,964)
Translation adjustment		274
Balance as of end of period		8,709			8,709
Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected incremental savings in 2016		6,000			6,000
Maximum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected incremental savings in 2016		7,000			7,000
Selling & Administrative [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		2,698	6,974
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		131	1,908
Long-lived asset impairment		471	3,815
Gain on asset sales			(1,301)
Write-down of inventory		0	0
Other costs	[1]	2,096	2,552
Cost of Products Sold [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		644	141
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		0	0
Long-lived asset impairment		0	0
Gain on asset sales			0
Write-down of inventory		644	141
Other costs	[1]	0	0
Flavors & Fragrances [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for consolidation | Facilities				8
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		2,942	5,829
Flavors & Fragrances [Member] | North America [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for consolidation | Facilities				4
Flavors & Fragrances [Member] | Europe [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for consolidation | Facilities				4
Color [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		39	161
Asia Pacific [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		0	58
Corporate & Other [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		361	$ 1,067
Employee Separations [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Abstract]
Balance as of beginning of period		10,260
Expense activity		131
Cash spent		(2,454)
Translation adjustment		274
Balance as of end of period		8,211			8,211
Asset Related and Other [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Abstract]
Balance as of beginning of period		912
Expense activity		2,096
Cash spent		(2,510)
Translation adjustment		0
Balance as of end of period		$ 498			$ 498

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