Debt instrument maturity.

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt classified as other, payable after one year or the operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion. Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SeniorLongTermNotes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(19)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(13))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=iff_BankBorrowingsAndOverdraftsMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=iff_DeferredRealizedGainsOnInterestRateSwapsMember
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Borrowings - Components of Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	May 18, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 1,673,347		$ 1,325,371
Less: Current portion of debt	(47,845)		(258,516)
Total long-term debt	$ 1,625,502		1,066,855
Commercial Paper
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate (as a percentage)	1.191%
Maturities	2017
Bank overdrafts and other	$ 39,957		0
Senior Notes 2007
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate (as a percentage)	6.55%
Maturities	2019-27
Credit facilities	$ 249,765		499,676
Senior Notes 2007 \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturities	2017
Senior Notes 2007 \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturities	2027
Senior Notes 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate (as a percentage)	3.20%
Maturities	2023
Credit facilities	$ 298,594		297,986
Senior Notes 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate (as a percentage)	1.75%
Maturities	2024
Credit facilities	$ 582,514		512,764
Senior Notes 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate (as a percentage)	4.375%	4.375%
Maturities	2047
Credit facilities	$ 492,653		0
Bank overdrafts and other
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bank overdrafts and other	9,807		13,599
Deferred realized gains on interest rate swaps
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred realized gains on interest rate swaps	$ 57		$ 1,346