Segment Information - Reportable Segment Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 872,940		$ 777,001	$ 2,544,094	$ 2,353,790
Segment profit:
Restructuring and other charges, net	(3,249)		0	(14,183)	0
Gain on sales of fixed assets	31		87	120	2,998
Tax assessment		$ (5,400)
Operating profit	157,667		124,426	454,245	459,032
Interest expense	(19,221)		(13,111)	(49,584)	(40,649)
Other income, net	2,880		2,075	17,192	1,954
Income before taxes	141,326		113,390	421,853	420,337
Flavors [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	409,800		366,857	1,230,286	1,118,869
Segment profit:
Operating profit	91,378		77,512	289,723	259,662
Fragrances [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	463,140		410,144	1,313,808	1,234,921
Segment profit:
Operating profit	93,528		85,010	260,085	261,843
Global expenses [Member]
Segment profit:
Operating profit	(17,598)		(11,405)	(47,193)	(37,544)
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment profit:
Restructuring and other charges, net	(3,249)		(190)	(14,183)	(473)
Acquisition and related costs	(5,436)		(786)	(20,502)	(2,035)
Operational improvement initiative costs	(407)		(802)	(1,473)	(1,901)
Legal charge	0		(25,000)	(1,000)	(23,518)
Gain on sales of fixed assets	31		87	120	2,998
Tax assessment	0		0	(5,331)	0
Integration-related costs	(580)		0	(2,501)	0
FDA mandated product recall	$ 0		$ 0	$ (3,500)	$ 0