-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HpcBrwAfdOfnMNiNkntLkNOfh20usgTYdj6gxMpuLbBD6NTyS1n714h2/Wp9DVTM
 JKoqTr/dSWBoZ09LHVjqGw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-012329.txt : 20030701
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-012329.hdr.sgml : 20030701
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030701151515
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-012329
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030701

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000310142
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BEVERAGES [2080]
		IRS NUMBER:				390561070
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4142716755

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 737
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53201

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNIVERSAL FOODS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABDOO RICHARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001017659

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07626
		FILM NUMBER:		03767845

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SUNDSTRAND CORP
		STREET 2:		4949 HARRISON AVENUE
		CITY:			ROCKFORD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61125-7003
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8152266000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 7003
		CITY:			ROCKFORD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61125-7003
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd12171.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000310142</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SXT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001017659</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ABDOO RICHARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Deferred Stock</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-06-30</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>182.6881</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>22.99</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>1988-08-08</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>1988-08-08</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>182.6881</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>3920.6287</value>
<footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Deferred Stock converts to Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Shares of Common Stock allocated to Director&apos;s account as of 6/30/2003 pursuant to Company&apos;s Deferred Compensation Plan, based on closing price of $22.99 per share for Company&apos;s Common Stock on 6/30/2003.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Shares of Common Stock will be issued following termination of reporting person&apos;s service as a Director of the Company.</footnote>
<footnote id="F4">Includes allocation of dividends to account of Director pursuant to Company&apos;s Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>John L. Hammond, Attorney-in-fact for Mr. Abdoo</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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