Press Release

• North American fragrance and flavor sales increased 6% and 4%, respectively; in total, regional sales increased 5%. Sales of fine fragrances increased 21%, benefiting both from new wins and strong demand for existing fragrance compounds. Fragrance ingredient sales increased 12%, while functional fragrance sales declined 8%. The flavor growth mainly resulted from new wins.
• European fragrance sales decreased 11% while flavor sales declined 6%; in total, regional sales declined 9%. Reported sales were unfavorably impacted by the strength of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, Pound Sterling and Swiss Franc; local currency sales declined 1%. Local currency fragrance sales decreased 2%; fine and functional fragrance sales each increased 2%, although this growth was offset by a 12% decline in sales of fragrance ingredients. Local currency flavor sales increased 2%, mainly as a result of new wins.
• Latin American sales increased 11%, with fragrance and flavor sales increasing 8% and 19%, respectively. For the region, sales growth was strongest in Venezuela, Central America and Mexico which grew 32%, 22% and 16%, respectively; Brazil grew 6% for the quarter. Fragrance sales grew in all product categories and growth was fairly consistent across the region; fine and functional fragrance and fragrance ingredient sales increased 9%, 7% and 12%, respectively. Flavor sales growth was also strong throughout the region led by increases of 20%, 79% and 11% in Brazil, Central America and Mexico, respectively.
• Asia Pacific fragrance sales decreased 7% while flavor sales declined 3% compared to the 2005 quarter; in total, regional sales declined 5% in reported dollars. Local currency fragrance sales were led by a 3% increase in fine fragrances although this growth was offset by a 9% decline in functional fragrances; sales of fragrance ingredients were flat in local currency as were flavor sales. For the region, Thailand, South Korea and Singapore/Malaysia sales were strongest, with respective local currency sales increases of 14%, 14% and 6%. However, this growth was offset by weakness in the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia and Japan which declined 22%, 7%, 7% and 4%, respectively, in local currency.
• India sales increased 16% in local currency and 14% in reported dollars. Local currency fragrance sales increased 19%, resulting in a 17% increase in dollars. Flavor sales increased 12% in local currency and 11% in dollars. In both flavors and fragrances, the sales performance reflected the benefit of new product wins and continued strength of the region's economies.

• Gross profit, as a percentage of sales, increased to 42.4% compared to 41.0% in the 2005 quarter. The improvement was attributable mainly to the local currency sales performance and improved manufacturing expense absorption, favorable product mix and the benefit of selling price increases. Gross margin in the 2005 quarter was also unfavorably impacted by lower expense absorption attributable to the closure of the Company's Dijon, France facility and the transfer of related production to other manufacturing locations; production at the Dijon facility ceased in March 2005.
• Research and Development (“R&D”) expenses totaled 8.9% of sales compared to 8.6% in the prior year quarter, consistent with the Company's intended level of R&D spending.
• Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) expenses, as a percentage of sales, increased to 16.7% from 16.2%. SG&A expenses were impacted by higher incentive plan accruals than in the prior year, driven by the improved local currency sales and operating performance.
• Operating expenses were also impacted by the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) “Share Based Payment” (“FAS 123R”) which the Company adopted effective January 1, 2006. R&D and SG&A expense include $0.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of equity compensation expense related to the adoption of FAS 123R.
• Interest expense declined 4% due to a lower average interest rate on borrowings; the average interest rate on borrowings for 2006 was 2.3% compared to 3.2% for 2005.
• The effective tax rate for the quarter was 28.6%, compared to 31.2% in the prior year quarter; the rate for the 2006 quarter benefited from reversal of accruals no longer deemed necessary regarding certain overseas locations.

Consistent with prior guidance, IFF currently expects 2006 local currency sales to increase in the low single digits in comparison to 2005; based on current exchange rates, this local currency performance is expected to result in a low single digit increase in reported dollar sales.

• Gross profit, as a percentage of sales, is expected to improve slightly from 2005 mainly due to improved sales performance, product mix, implementation of price increases and savings resulting from restructuring actions.
• R&D expenses are expected to approximate 9.0% of sales.
• SG&A expenses, as a percentage of sales, are expected to decrease somewhat from 2005 levels, mainly as a result of the restructuring activities and absence of costs associated with product contamination; partially offsetting these savings will be the inclusion of $14.0 to $16.0 million in equity compensation expense in 2006, compared to $7.3 million in 2005. Vesting of equity compensation is time based (generally over a three year period); the actual expense will depend upon the value of the Company's stock and the number of equity units granted among other factors.
• Interest expense is expected to decline approximately 10% from 2005, mainly based on anticipated lower levels of debt, and the Company's interest rate management strategies.
• The effective tax rate is expected to approximate 30% for the full year 2006.

Reorganization Actions

In January 2006, the Company announced plans to eliminate approximately 300 positions in manufacturing, selling, research and administration functions, principally in its European and North American operating regions; the reductions represent 6% of the Company's workforce. As a result of these actions, the Company anticipates recording pre-tax restructuring charges of $25.0 million to $30.0 million relating primarily to employee separation expenses; of this, $23.3 million was recognized in 2005; $0.7 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2006. The remaining charges are expected to be recognized over the balance of 2006. Annual savings from these actions are expected to approximate $16.0 million to $18.0 million.

About IFF
IFF is a leading creator and manufacturer of flavors and fragrances used in a wide variety of consumer products—from fine fragrances and toiletries, to soaps, detergents and other household products, to beverages and food products. IFF is dedicated to The Pursuit of Excellence in every area of its business, using knowledge, creativity, innovation and technology to continually provide customers with the highest quality products and service and superior consumer understanding.

IFF has sales, manufacturing and creative facilities in 31 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.iff.com.

Cautionary Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Statements in this report, which are not historical facts or information, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable current assumptions and expectations. Certain of such forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as "expect", "believe", "may", "outlook", "guidance" and similar terms or variations thereof. All information concerning future revenues, tax rates or benefits, interest savings, and other future financial results or financial position, constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable current assumptions and expectations. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and other factors. Actual results of the Company may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions in the Company's markets, including economic, population health and political uncertainties; interest rates; the price, quality and availability of raw materials; the Company's ability to implement its business strategy, including the achievement of anticipated cost savings, profitability and growth targets; the impact of currency fluctuation or devaluation in the Company's principal foreign markets and the success of the Company's hedging and risk management strategies; the outcome of uncertainties related to litigation; uncertainties related to any potential claims and rights of indemnification or other recovery for customer and consumer reaction to its earlier contamination issue; the impact of possible pension funding obligations and increased pension expense on the Company's cash flow and results of operations; and the effect of legal and regulatory proceedings, as well as restrictions imposed on the Company, its operations or its representatives by foreign governments. The Company intends its forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of such statements and does not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available or to reflect changes in expectations, assumptions or results.

Conference call
There will be a conference call today at 10:00 AM Eastern Time, at which time the Company will discuss operating results for the 2006 first quarter, and its current expectations for 2006. The dial in number for U.S.-based callers is 1-888-202-2422; for international callers, the number is 1-913-981-5592. The pass code for the call is 4442951.

A replay of the conference call will be available from 1:00 PM Eastern Time beginning on Wednesday April 26, 2006 and ending at Midnight on Wednesday, May 10. The dial in number for the replay for U.S.-based listeners is 1-888-203-1112; for international listeners, the number is 1-719-457-0820. The replay pass code will be 4442951.

The call can also be monitored at www.iff.com. Real Network's Real Player or Microsoft Media Player is required to access the webcast. They can be downloaded from www.real.com or www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website for twelve months.