Segment Information - Reportable Segment Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 3,116,350	$ 3,023,189	$ 3,088,533
Consolidated segment assets	4,016,984	3,702,010
Operating profit	567,356	588,347	592,321
Gain on sales of fixed assets	10,836	0	0
Legal charges/credits, net	(48,518)	0	0
Interest expense	(52,989)	(46,062)	(46,067)
Other expense, net	9,350	(3,184)	2,807
Income before taxes	$ 523,717	$ 539,101	$ 549,061
Operating Profit Margin	18.20%	19.50%	19.20%
Acquisition-related Costs [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	$ (12,195)	$ (18,342)	$ 0
Brazil [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain on sales of fixed assets	7,818
Restructuring and Other Charges, Net [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	(322)	(7,594)	(1,298)
Spanish Capital Tax Charge [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	0	10,530	0
Operational Improvement Initiative Costs [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	(2,402)	(1,115)	(7,642)
Accelerated Contingent Consideration [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	$ 0	$ (7,192)	$ 0
Flavors [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit Margin	22.50%	22.10%	22.70%
Fragrances [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit Margin	20.60%	20.40%	20.60%
Operating Segments [Member] \| Flavors [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,496,525	$ 1,442,951	$ 1,457,055
Consolidated segment assets	1,780,695	1,604,623
Operating profit	337,242	318,476	331,257
Operating Segments [Member] \| Fragrances [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,619,825	1,580,238	1,631,478
Consolidated segment assets	1,925,642	1,975,002
Operating profit	334,220	321,764	335,447
Global [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated segment assets	310,647	122,385
Operating profit	$ (48,487)	$ (28,180)	$ (65,443)

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Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, including oil and gas property and timber property.

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Amount of gain (loss) recognized in settlement of litigation and insurance claims. Excludes claims within an insurance entity's normal claims settlement process.

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

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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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