Employee Benefits (Percentage Of Assets Invested) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
U.S. Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	2.00%	1.00%
Equities	50.00%	64.00%
Fixed income	48.00%	35.00%
Property	0.00%	0.00%
Alternative and other investments	0.00%	0.00%
Non-U.S. Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	1.00%	4.00%
Equities	22.00%	30.00%
Fixed income	59.00%	55.00%
Property	10.00%	11.00%
Alternative and other investments	8.00%	0.00%

Alternative and other investments is a category where plan assets are invested.

No definition available.

Name:	iff_DefinedBenefitPlanAlternativeAndOtherInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	iff_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of the fair value of debt securities to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph d(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e2446-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of the fair value of equity securities to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of the fair value of investments other than debt securities, equity securities, and real estate to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanOtherPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of the fair value of real estate to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant