EXHIBIT 10.1


              AMENDMENT #2 TO THE SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
                      DIRECTORS' DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN


         WHEREAS, Sensient Technologies Corporation (the "Company") adopted the
Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan") to assist the Company in
attracting and retaining the service of directors upon whose judgment, interest
and special effort the successful conduct of its operations largely depends; and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Plan;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended in the manner set forth below:

         1. The phrase "Restated Plan" is deleted from the Plan wherever it
appears, and replaced in each case by the word "Plan."

         2. Section 6 of the Plan is deleted in its entirety and replaced by the
following paragraph:

                  6. Crediting Stock to Stock Subaccount. If, pursuant to an
         Initial Election or Subsequent Election, an Eligible Director makes a
         Plan Allocation into the Stock Subaccount, such Eligible Director's
         Stock Subaccount shall be credited with that number of shares
         (including any fractional share) of the Company's common stock, $.10
         par value (including the associated Preferred Share Purchase Rights)
         ("Common Stock") which have a market value equal to the amount of the
         Deferral Portion allocated to his/her Stock Account. Shares shall be
         credited to a Stock Subaccount as of the last day of the fiscal quarter
         in which any Director Fees would have been payable (the "Credit Date").
         For purposes of this section 6, the market value of a share of Common
         Stock shall equal the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock on
         the New York Stock Exchange on the Credit Date (or if no sale took
         place on such exchange on such date, the closing sale price on such
         exchange on the most recent preceding date on which a sale took place).



         This amendment #2 to the Plan is hereby adopted and shall become
effective as of July 17, 2003.

                                        SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION


                                        By:  /s/ Richard Carney
                                           ----------------------------
                                        Richard Carney,
                                        Vice President, Administration




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