Absente absinthe, a characteristic herbal spirit from Provence in France, is characterised by its high aniseed content, which places it in the pastis category in some countries. This categorisation allows it to be sold in regions where traditional absinthe is banned due to its thujone content - an essential oil of the wormwood herb that is toxic in high doses.

However, Absente absinthe contains only a very small amount of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), which distinguishes it from classic absinthe, whose name is derived from the Latin word for wormwood, "absinthium". Historically, the tradition of absinthe dates back to the 18th century and reached its heyday in the 1920s, especially in the Parisian art scene, where diluting it with water became a popular drinking method.