Segment Information - Reportable Segment Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Net sales:
Net sales		$ 765,092	$ 773,813	$ 2,307,540	$ 2,332,451
Segment profit:
Operating profit		156,713	152,590	467,328	461,759
Restructuring and other charges, net		0	(608)	170	(912)
Acquisition and related costs	[1]	(6,830)	0	(13,896)	0
Operational improvement initiative costs	[2]	(279)	(282)	(841)	(6,014)
Interest expense		(11,855)	(10,968)	(34,357)	(34,048)
Other income, net		(1,959)	563	3,315	3,761
Income before taxes		142,899	142,185	436,286	431,472
Flavors [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales		359,103	358,708	1,108,689	1,100,726
Segment profit:
Operating profit		79,803	79,747	256,546	258,614
Fragrances [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales		405,989	415,105	1,198,851	1,231,725
Segment profit:
Operating profit		90,893	86,615	252,416	259,253
Global expenses [Member]
Segment profit:
Operating profit		$ (6,874)	$ (12,882)	$ (27,067)	$ (49,182)

[1] Acquisition and related costs are associated with the acquisitions of Ottens Flavors and Lucas Meyer as discussed in Note 3, including inventory step-up charges related to the inventory acquired.

[2] Operational improvement initiative costs relate to the closing of a smaller facility in Europe in the 2014 period and certain manufacturing activities in Asia in both the 2015 and 2014 periods, while transferring production to larger facilities in each respective region.