Segment Information - Reportable Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 774,907us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 770,224us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Segment profit:
Operating profit	161,793us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	156,053us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Restructuring and other charges, net	(187)us-gaap_RestructuringCharges	(122)us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Acquisition and related costs	(500)	0
Operational improvement initiative costs	(281)	(2,619)
Interest expense	(11,095)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(11,677)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Other income, net	5,710us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	(1,443)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income before taxes	156,408	142,933
Flavors [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	377,108	366,505
Segment profit:
Operating profit	92,727	88,063
Fragrances [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	397,799	403,719
Segment profit:
Operating profit	81,598	87,166
Global expenses [Member]
Segment profit:
Operating profit	$ (11,564)	$ (16,435)

Operational Improvement Initiative Costs

No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 23

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- Definition

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items.

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Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

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Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

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