Restructuring (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		27 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) Facilities Positions	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) Positions
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated fair values of the remaining long-lived assets		$ 19,000		$ 19,000				$ 19,000
Long lived asset impairments recorded to date								$ 85,500
Position reduction due to restructuring | Positions				400
Number of positions eliminated due to restructuring | Positions								272
Non-cash loss on sale of business				$ 13,000
Liabilities held for sale		4,509		4,509		$ 4,090		$ 4,509
Total restructuring costs incurred to date		144,600		144,600				144,600
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		2,100		4,100
Pre-tax gain from discontinued operations		3,441	$ (134)	3,410	$ (428)
Gain on sale of facilities		200
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		3,275	9,622	6,617	16,737
Discontinued operations		(3,485)	85	(3,485)	114
Total restructuring		(210)	9,707	3,132	16,851
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		319	1,796	450	3,704
Long-lived asset impairment		262	3,665	733	7,480
Gain on asset sales					(1,301)
Write-down of inventory		166	140	810	281
Other restructuring costs	[1]	2,528	4,021	4,624	6,573
Future restructuring costs, 2016		13,000		13,000				13,000
Future restructuring costs, 2017		4,000		4,000				4,000
Translation adjustment reclassified into net earnings		3,300
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period				11,172
Expense activity				5,074
Cash spent				(7,292)
Translation adjustment				145
Balance as of end of period		9,099		9,099		11,172		9,099
Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected incremental savings in 2016		6,000		6,000				6,000
Maximum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected incremental savings in 2016		7,000		$ 7,000				7,000
Europe [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for sell | Facilities				2
Selling & Administrative [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		3,109	9,482	$ 5,807	16,456
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		319	1,796	450	3,704
Long-lived asset impairment		262	3,665	733	7,480
Gain on asset sales					(1,301)
Write-down of inventory		0	0	0	0
Other restructuring costs	[1]	2,528	4,021	4,624	6,573
Cost of Products Sold [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		166	140	810	281
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
Write-down of inventory		166	140	810	281
Other restructuring costs	[1]	0	0	$ 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		2,925	7,191	$ 5,867	13,020
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		93	1,422	$ 132	1,583
Asia Pacific [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		0	0	0	58
Corporate & Other [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		257	$ 1,009	618	$ 2,076
European Natural Ingredients Business [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Assets held for sale of inventory, receivable and other assets		18,800		18,800				18,800
Liabilities held for sale		3,100		3,100				3,100
2014 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Assets held for sale of land, building and equipment		9,400		9,400				9,400
Employee Separations [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period				10,260
Expense activity				450
Cash spent				(2,574)
Translation adjustment				145
Balance as of end of period		8,281		8,281		10,260		8,281
Other [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period				912
Expense activity				4,624
Cash spent				(4,718)
Translation adjustment				0
Balance as of end of period		$ 818		$ 818		$ 912		$ 818

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