Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	$ 346,226us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 367,125us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Total Revenue	358,114us-gaap_Revenues	379,565us-gaap_Revenues
Operating income (loss)	46,446us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	8,586us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest expense	3,915us-gaap_InterestExpense	4,131us-gaap_InterestExpense
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	42,531	4,455
Operating Segments [Member] \| Flavors & Fragrances [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	199,100	206,862
Total Revenue	205,978	214,333
Operating income (loss)	30,459	30,244
Interest expense	0	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	30,459	30,244
Operating Segments [Member] \| Color [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	115,537	128,022
Total Revenue	120,515	132,991
Operating income (loss)	26,139	29,774
Interest expense	0	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	26,139	29,774
Operating Segments [Member] \| Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	31,589	32,241
Total Revenue	31,621	32,241
Operating income (loss)	(10,152)	(51,432)
Interest expense	3,915	4,131
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(14,067)	(55,563)
Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenue	11,888	12,440
Intersegment Revenue [Member] \| Flavors & Fragrances [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenue	6,878	7,471
Intersegment Revenue [Member] \| Color [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenue	4,978	4,969
Intersegment Revenue [Member] \| Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenue	$ 32	$ 0

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

+ References

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

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

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

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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

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Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

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