Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 11, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) Facility	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 15, 2019 USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Bank guarantees related to appeals on income tax and indirect tax cases			$ 13,800,000
Available lines of credit			97,400,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net			1,339,124,000	$ 1,386,920,000
Bank guarantees and pledged assets to pursue defenses related to other contingencies			21,500,000
Bank guarantees and standby letters of credit
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Bank guarantees and letters of credit outstanding			47,800,000
Pledged assets
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
The amount of pledged assets, principally PP&E to cover income tax and indirect tax assessments			7,700,000
Zhejiang Ingredients Plant
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Gain Contingency, Expected Relocation Payments			13,800,000		$ 50,000,000
Gain Contingency, Relocation Payments Received					$ 15,000,000
Minimum
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimation of possible loss			0
Maximum
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimation of possible loss			10,000,000
Amended credit facility | Citibank, N.A.
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity			789,700,000
CHINA
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net			$ 199,000,000
Number of facilities | Facility			8
CHINA | Guangzhou Flavors Plant
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net			$ 59,000,000
CHINA | Guangzhou Fragrance Plant
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net			9,000,000
CHINA | Zhejiang Ingredients Plant
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net			10,000,000
Nutrition & Biosciences, Inc | Senior Unsecured Bridge Term Loan | Unsecured Debt
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Debt face amount						$ 7,500,000,000
Nutrition & Biosciences, Inc | Senior Unsecured Term Loan Facilities | Unsecured Debt
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Debt face amount						1,250,000,000
Nutrition & Biosciences, Inc | Three Hundred Sixty Four Day Senior Unsecured Bridge Facility | Unsecured Debt
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Debt face amount						$ 6,250,000,000
BRAZIL | Foreign Tax Authority
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Proceeds from Income Tax Refunds			3,500,000	$ 8,000,000.0
BRAZIL | Foreign Tax Authority | BRAZIL
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Proceeds from Income Tax Refunds			$ 2,200,000
Chief Executive Officer
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Compensation Expense	$ 20,000,000	$ 20,000,000