EXHIBIT 5


                                January 30, 2003

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
521 West 57th Street
New York, New York  10019

         Re:      IFF 2000 Stock Award and Incentive Plan

Gentlemen:

         I am Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (the "Company") and have represented the
Company in connection with the IFF 2000 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (the
"Plan"). I have reviewed the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), relating to the registration of an aggregate of 11,664,500 shares of the
Company's common stock, par value $.12 1/2 per share ("Common Stock"), which may
be issued by the Company pursuant to the Plan. I have reviewed the Registration
Statement, the charter and by-laws of the Company, corporate proceedings of the
Board of Directors relating to the issuance of shares of Common Stock, and such
other documents, corporate records and matters of law as I have deemed necessary
for purposes of this opinion letter, and based thereupon I am of the opinion
that the shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan have
been duly authorized for issuance by the Company and, will be, when issued and
paid for in accordance with the Plan, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         I am admitted to the Bar in the State of New York and I express no
opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction other than the federal laws of
the United States to the extent specifically referred to herein.

         I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5 to
the Registration Statement to effect the registration of the Common Stock under
the Act and to the reference to me under the caption "Interests of Named Experts
and Counsel" therein.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC.




                                         /s/ Stephen A. Block
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                       Stephen A. Block
                                       Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                          and Secretary