Restructuring (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) Facility		Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) Facility Position		Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated fair values of the remaining long-lived assets		$ 9,000			$ 9,000
Long-lived asset impairment		0		$ 300	400		$ 700
Long lived asset impairments recorded to date					87,000
Total restructuring costs incurred to date		180,000			180,000
Future restructuring costs, 2017		1,000			1,000
Realized cost of savings					22,000
Expected incremental saving realized					0
Expected incremental savings in 2017		4,000			4,000
Expected incremental savings in 2018		5,000			5,000
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		7,415		(210)	27,627		3,132
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period					7,529
Expense activity	[1]				1,457
Cash spent					(8,085)
Translation adjustment					109
Balance as of end of period		1,010			1,010
Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		7,415		3,275	27,627		6,617
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		3,857	[2]	319	(628)	[3]	450
Long-lived asset impairment		12		262	468		733
Loss on sale of business		654			21,563
Write-down of inventory		0		166	342		810
Other restructuring costs	[4]	2,892		2,528	5,882		4,624
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		0		(3,485)	0		(3,485)
Selling & Administrative [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		7,415		3,109	27,285		5,807
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		3,857	[2]	319	(628)	[3]	450
Long-lived asset impairment		12		262	468		733
Loss on sale of business		654			21,563
Write-down of inventory		0		0	0		0
Other restructuring costs	[4]	2,892		2,528	5,882		4,624
Cost of Products Sold [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		0		166	342		810
Detail of the restructuring costs [Abstract]
Employee separation		0	[2]	0	0	[3]	0
Long-lived asset impairment		0		0	0		0
Loss on sale of business		0			0
Write-down of inventory		0		166	342		810
Other restructuring costs	[4]	0		0	$ 0		0
Flavors & Fragrances [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Facilities identified for consolidation | Facility					8
Position reduction due to restructuring | Position					400
Flavors & Fragrances [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		$ 7,339		2,925	$ 27,492		5,867
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		93	$ 0		132
Asia Pacific [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		0		0	0		0
Corporate & Other [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring cost by segment [Abstract]
Total restructuring		76		$ 257	135		$ 618
2014 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Assets held for sale of land, building and equipment		7,300			7,300
Employee Separations [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period					6,959
Expense activity	[1]				(4,425)
Cash spent					(1,847)
Translation adjustment					109
Balance as of end of period		796			796
Other [Member]
Summary of accrual for restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning of period					570
Expense activity	[1]				5,882
Cash spent					(6,238)
Translation adjustment					0
Balance as of end of period		$ 214			$ 214

[1] Employee separation costs include a reversal, during the three months ended March 31, 2017, of the employee separation accrual for the European Natural Ingredients business, given the sale of this business.

[2] Employee separation costs includes settlement expense related to the termination of one of the Company's defined benefit plans.

[3] Employee separation costs include a reversal, during the three months ended March 31, 2017, of the employee separation accrual for the European Natural Ingredients business, given the sale of this business, as well as, settlement expense related to the termination of one of the Company's defined benefit plans.

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