Interest rate swap agreements maturity period

No definition available.

Name:	iff_InterestRateSwapAgreementsMaturityPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	iff_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of forward currency contracts that matured during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iff_NumberOfForwardCurrencyContractsThatMaturedDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	iff_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of interest rate swaps entered into during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iff_NumberOfInterestRateSwapAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	iff_
Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6887037&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativesFairValueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net gain (loss) recognized in earnings during the reporting period representing the amount of the cash flow hedges' ineffectiveness.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnCashFlowHedgeIneffectivenessNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(3)

-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 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6887037&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MaximumLengthOfTimeHedgedInCashFlowHedge
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maturity period of interest rate swap agreements	3 years
Number of interest rate swap agreements			2
Derivative gains included in AOCI	$ 4.3
Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness, Net	$ 0	$ 0
Cross Currency Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative instrument maturity period (years)	10 years
Forward Currency Contracts [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Number of multiple forward currency contracts matured	4