Restructuring (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		30 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) Facilities Positions	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
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							85,600
Position reduction due to restructuring | Positions					400
Number of positions eliminated due to restructuring | Positions					256
Non-cash loss on sale of business					$ 15,000
Liabilities held for sale		6,192			6,192		6,192	$ 4,090
Total restructuring costs incurred to date		147,300			147,300		147,300
Estimated cost savings due to restructuring					30,000
Annual cost of savings					27,000
Realized cost of savings		3,000					22,000
Expected incremental saving realized					1,000
Gain on sale of facilities			$ 200
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		2,781		$ 10,952	9,398	$ 27,689
Discontinued operations		0		(71)	(3,485)	43
Total restructuring		2,781		10,881	5,913	27,732
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		288		745	738	4,449
Long-lived asset impairment (gain)		(231)		2,610	502	10,090
Gain on asset sales						(1,301)
Write-down of inventory		0		2,814	810	3,095
Other restructuring costs	[1]	2,724		4,783	7,348	11,356
Future restructuring costs, 2016		4,000			4,000		4,000
Future restructuring costs, 2017		16,000			16,000		16,000
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					8,086
Cash spent					(10,836)
Translation adjustment					209
Balance as of end of period		8,631			$ 8,631		8,631
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		2,781		8,138	$ 8,588	24,594
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		288		745	738	4,449
Long-lived asset impairment (gain)		(231)		2,610	502	10,090
Gain on asset sales						(1,301)
Write-down of inventory		0		0	0	0
Other restructuring costs	[1]	2,724		4,783	7,348	11,356
Cost of Products Sold [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total continuing operations		0		2,814	810	3,095
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		0		0	0	0
Long-lived asset impairment (gain)		0		0	0	0
Gain on asset sales						0
Write-down of inventory		0		2,814	810	3,095
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		2,763		10,035	$ 8,630	23,055
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		(67)		245	$ 65	1,828
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		85		$ 672	703	$ 2,748
European Natural Ingredients Business [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Assets held for sale of inventory, receivable and other assets		20,000			20,000		20,000
Liabilities held for sale		4,600			4,600		4,600
2014 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Assets held for sale of land, building and equipment		9,700			9,700		9,700
Employee Separations [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period					10,260
Expense activity					738
Cash spent					(3,216)
Translation adjustment					209
Balance as of end of period		7,991			7,991		7,991
Other [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period					912
Expense activity					7,348
Cash spent					(7,620)
Translation adjustment					0
Balance as of end of period		$ 640			$ 640		$ 640

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