Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	May 31, 2014	May 31, 2013	Nov. 30, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014
Changes in Goodwill
Cumulative Goodwill Impairments				$ (46,490,000)	$ (46,490,000)
Goodwill Net Book Value				549,829,000	453,241,000
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(113,093,000)	(94,698,000)
Goodwill and intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount				1,114,283,000	916,738,000
Net Book Value				954,700,000	775,550,000
Housewares
Changes in Goodwill
Goodwill Gross Carrying Amount				166,132,000	166,132,000
Goodwill Net Book Value				166,132,000	166,132,000
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(12,090,000)	(11,149,000)
Goodwill and intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount				257,255,000	257,025,000
Net Book Value				245,165,000	245,876,000
Housewares | Other intangible assets
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				15,923,000	15,693,000
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(12,090,000)	(11,149,000)
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Net Book Value				3,833,000	4,544,000
Housewares | Trademarks
Changes in intangible assets - indefinite-lived
Intangible assets - indefinite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				75,200,000	75,200,000
Healthcare/Home Environment
Changes in Goodwill
Goodwill Gross Carrying Amount				251,758,000	251,758,000
Goodwill Net Book Value				251,758,000	251,758,000
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(51,426,000)	(41,022,000)
Goodwill and intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount				435,976,000	435,548,000
Net Book Value				384,550,000	394,526,000
Healthcare/Home Environment | Licenses
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				15,300,000	15,300,000
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(8,637,000)	(6,416,000)
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Net Book Value				6,663,000	8,884,000
Healthcare/Home Environment | Other intangible assets
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				114,918,000	114,490,000
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(42,789,000)	(34,606,000)
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Net Book Value				72,129,000	79,884,000
Healthcare/Home Environment | Trademarks
Changes in intangible assets - indefinite-lived
Intangible assets - indefinite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				54,000,000	54,000,000
Nutritional Supplements
Changes in Goodwill
Goodwill Gross Carrying Amount				96,587,000
Goodwill Net Book Value				96,587,000
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(2,607,000)
Goodwill and intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount				205,887,000
Net Book Value				203,280,000
Goodwill acquisition adjustments	1,280,000
Nutritional Supplements | Other intangible assets
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				43,800,000
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(2,607,000)
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Net Book Value				41,193,000
Nutritional Supplements | Brand assets
Changes in intangible assets - indefinite-lived
Intangible assets - indefinite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				65,500,000
Personal Care
Changes in Goodwill
Goodwill Gross Carrying Amount				81,841,000	81,841,000
Cumulative Goodwill Impairments				(46,490,000)	(46,490,000)
Goodwill Net Book Value				35,351,000	35,351,000
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(46,970,000)	(42,527,000)
Goodwill and intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount				215,165,000	224,165,000
Net Book Value				121,705,000	135,148,000
Personal Care | Trademarks
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				150,000	150,000
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(81,000)	(77,000)
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Net Book Value				69,000	73,000
Personal Care | Licenses
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				18,683,000	18,683,000
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(16,123,000)	(15,887,000)
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Net Book Value				2,560,000	2,796,000
Personal Care | Other intangible assets
Changes in intangible assets - finite-lived
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				49,437,000	49,437,000
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Accumulated Amortization				(30,766,000)	(26,563,000)
Intangible assets - finite-lived, Net Book Value				18,671,000	22,874,000
Personal Care | Trademarks
Goodwill and intangible assets
Non-cash indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment charges		9,000,000	12,050,000
Non-cash indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment charges, net of tax		8,160,000	12,030,000
Changes in intangible assets - indefinite-lived
Intangible assets - indefinite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				54,754,000	63,754,000
Personal Care | Licenses
Changes in intangible assets - indefinite-lived
Intangible assets - indefinite-lived, Gross Carrying Amount				$ 10,300,000	$ 10,300,000