Restructuring (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) Facility Position		Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated fair values of the remaining long-lived assets		$ 14,000
Long-lived asset impairment		500		$ 500
Long lived asset impairments recorded to date		$ 87,200
Position reduction due to restructuring | Position		400
Number of positions eliminated due to restructuring | Position		355
Total restructuring costs incurred to date		$ 172,700
Future restructuring costs, 2017		7,000
Estimated cost savings due to restructuring		30,000
Annual cost of savings		27,000
Realized cost of savings		22,000
Expected incremental saving realized		1,000
Expected incremental savings in 2017		3,000
Expected incremental savings in 2018		4,000
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		20,212		3,342
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		(4,485)	[1]	131
Long-lived asset impairment		456		471
Loss on sale of business		20,909
Write-down of inventory		342		644
Other restructuring costs	[2]	2,990		2,096
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period		7,529
Expense activity	[1]	(1,495)
Cash spent		(4,579)
Translation adjustment		77
Balance as of end of period		1,532
Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		20,212		3,342
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		0		0
Selling & Administrative [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		19,870		2,698
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		(4,485)	[1]	131
Long-lived asset impairment		456		471
Loss on sale of business		20,909
Write-down of inventory		0		0
Other restructuring costs	[2]	2,990		2,096
Cost of Products Sold [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		342		644
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		0	[1]	0
Long-lived asset impairment		0		0
Loss on sale of business		0
Write-down of inventory		342		644
Other restructuring costs	[2]	$ 0		0
Flavors & Fragrances [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for consolidation | Facility		8
Flavors & Fragrances [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		$ 20,153		2,942
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
Number of facilities for sale | Facility		2
Color [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for closure | Facility		1
Color [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		$ 0		39
Asia Pacific [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		0		0
Corporate & Other [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		59		$ 361
2014 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Assets held for sale of land, building and equipment		6,800
Employee Separations [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period		6,959
Expense activity	[1]	(4,485)
Cash spent		(1,252)
Translation adjustment		77
Balance as of end of period		1,299
Other [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period		570
Expense activity	[1]	2,990
Cash spent		(3,327)
Translation adjustment		0
Balance as of end of period		$ 233

[1] Employee separation costs include a reversal of the employee separation accrual for the European Natural Ingredients business, which is no longer expected to be paid due to the sale of this business.

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