Segment Information - Reportable Segment Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 3,398,719	$ 3,116,350	$ 3,023,189
Segment assets		4,598,926	4,016,984
Operating profit		581,443	567,356	588,347
Legal Charges/Credits, net		56,000	0	0
Tax assessment	$ (5,400)
Restructuring and Other Charges, net		(19,711)	(1,042)	(7,594)
Gain on Sale of Assets		184	10,836	0
UK Pension Settlement Charges		8,000
Interest expense		(65,363)	(52,989)	(46,062)
Other income (expense), net		20,965	9,350	(3,184)
Income before taxes		537,045	523,717	539,101
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operational Improvement Initiatives		(1,802)	(2,402)	(1,115)
Acquisition Related Costs		(20,389)	(12,195)	(18,342)
Integration Related Costs		(4,179)	0	0
Legal Charges/Credits, net		(1,000)	(48,518)	0
Tax assessment		(5,331)	0	0
Restructuring and Other Charges, net		(19,711)	(322)	(7,594)
Gain on Sale of Assets		184	7,818	0
FDA Mandated Product Recall		(11,000)	0	0
UK Pension Settlement Charges		(2,769)	0	0
Spanish Capital Tax Charge		0	0	10,530
Accelerated Contingent Consideration		$ 0	$ 0	$ (7,192)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Profit margin		17.10%	18.20%	19.50%
Operating Segments [Member] | Flavors [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 1,632,166	$ 1,496,525	$ 1,442,951
Segment assets		1,929,005	1,780,695
Operating profit		$ 375,208	$ 337,242	$ 318,476
Profit margin		23.00%	22.50%	22.10%
Operating Segments [Member] | Fragrances [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 1,766,553	$ 1,619,825	$ 1,580,238
Segment assets		2,284,309	1,925,642
Operating profit		$ 335,412	$ 334,220	$ 321,764
Profit margin		19.00%	20.60%	20.40%
Global [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment assets		$ 385,612	$ 310,647
Operating profit		$ (63,180)	$ (48,487)	$ (28,180)