Segment Information - Reportable Segment Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 742,256,000		$ 708,955,000	$ 2,227,727,000	$ 2,140,888,000
Segment profit:
Restructuring and other charges, net	0	(2,900,000)	0	(2,105,000)	(1,668,000)
Operational improvement initiative costs	(2,568,000)		0	(4,761,000)	0
Operating profit	141,529,000		134,175,000	421,530,000	387,389,000
Interest expense	(11,625,000)		(9,907,000)	(35,637,000)	(31,330,000)
Other income, net	4,080,000		(2,424,000)	16,359,000	(1,333,000)
Income before taxes	133,984,000		121,844,000	402,252,000	354,726,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets				16,100,000
Flavors [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	349,385,000		340,674,000	1,079,786,000	1,051,932,000
Segment profit:
Operating profit	81,101,000		76,145,000	254,055,000	236,458,000
Fragrances [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	392,871,000		368,281,000	1,147,941,000	1,088,956,000
Segment profit:
Operating profit	81,309,000		65,331,000	221,577,000	185,049,000
Global expenses [Member]
Segment profit:
Operating profit	$ (18,313,000)		$ (7,301,000)	$ (47,236,000)	$ (32,450,000)