| Document and Entity Information | Feb. 01, 2021 |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Entity Registrant Name | INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC |
| Entity Address, State or Province | NY |
| Amendment Flag | true |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000051253 |
| Document Type | 8-K/A |
| Document Period End Date | Feb. 1, 2021 |
| Entity Incorporation State Country Code | NY |
| Entity File Number | 1-4858 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 13-1432060 |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 521 West 57th Street |
| Entity Address, City or Town | New York |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 10019 |
| City Area Code | (212) |
| Local Phone Number | 765-5500 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre Commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
| Amendment Description | On February 3, 2021, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (“IFF”) filed a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Original Form 8-K”) announcing, among other things, that it had consummated the previously announced combination of IFF and the Nutrition & Biosciences business (the “N&B Business”) of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (“DuPont”) pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 15, 2019 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among DuPont, Nutrition & Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont (“N&B”), IFF, and Neptune Merger Sub I Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of IFF and that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2019, and amended on January 22, 2021 and February 1, 2021 (as amended, the “Separation Agreement”), by and among IFF, DuPont, N&B and Neptune Merger Sub II LLC (such combination, the “N&B Transaction”). |
| Common Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Common Stock, par value 12 1/2¢ per share |
| Trading Symbol | IFF |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| A 6.00 Tangible Equity Units [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | 6.00% Tangible Equity Units |
| Trading Symbol | IFFT |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| A 0.500 Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | 0.500% Senior Notes due 2021 |
| Trading Symbol | IFF 21 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| A 1.750 Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | 1.75% Senior Notes due 2024 |
| Trading Symbol | IFF 24 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| A 1.800 Senior Notes Due 2026 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | 1.800% Senior Notes due 2026 |
| Trading Symbol | IFF 26 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
