Segment and Geographic Information (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Segment	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment and Geographic Information [Abstract]
Number of reportable segment | Segment	3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	$ 1,362,265	$ 1,383,210	$ 1,375,964
Total revenue	1,396,499	1,421,138	1,412,529
Operating income (loss)	167,806	185,609	166,341
Interest expense	19,383	18,324	16,945
Earnings before income taxes	148,423	167,285	149,396
Assets	1,724,340	1,667,860	1,703,732
Capital expenditures	56,344	81,216	79,941
Depreciation and amortization	48,518	47,019	47,939
Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	(34,234)	(37,928)	(36,565)
Total revenue	34,234	37,928	36,565
Flavors & Fragrances [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	727,026	771,434	795,239
Total revenue	746,943	795,811	819,450
Operating income (loss)	114,343	124,059	122,285
Interest expense	0	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	114,343	124,059	122,285
Assets	773,173	785,449	806,755
Capital expenditures	31,989	57,622	56,233
Depreciation and amortization	23,611	22,897	24,049
Flavors & Fragrances [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	19,917	24,377	24,211
Color [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	512,811	490,862	469,718
Total revenue	526,363	504,131	481,892
Operating income (loss)	113,381	105,814	97,657
Interest expense	0	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	113,381	105,814	97,657
Assets	720,328	673,754	714,138
Capital expenditures	18,797	15,422	18,933
Depreciation and amortization	19,902	19,421	19,025
Color [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	13,552	13,269	12,174
Asia Pacific [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	122,428	120,914	111,007
Total revenue	123,193	121,196	111,187
Operating income (loss)	20,772	23,603	22,227
Interest expense	0	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	20,772	23,603	22,227
Assets	99,770	92,203	74,972
Capital expenditures	3,557	5,199	2,643
Depreciation and amortization	2,303	2,042	1,853
Asia Pacific [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	765	282	180
Corporate & Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	0	0	0
Total revenue	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	(80,690)	(67,867)	(75,828)
Interest expense	19,383	18,324	16,945
Earnings before income taxes	(100,073)	(86,191)	(92,773)
Assets	131,069	116,454	107,867
Capital expenditures	2,001	2,973	2,132
Depreciation and amortization	2,702	2,659	3,012
Corporate & Other [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0