Absente sold in the U.S. used to contain no grande wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)[1], the essential herb from which absinthe derives its name. The maker substituted southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) and was bottled with sugar, two critical aspects that differentiated Absente as an anise liqueur and not an absinthe by any traditional reference. The ingredients of Absente are listed in order as alcohol, sugar, a combination of "essences", infusions and distillates[2], and two artificial dyes, FD&C Yellow #5 and Blue #1[3].
Absente's U.S. marketing effort had long sought to associate the liqueur with genuine absinthe through statements such as, "The only difference is we replaced Wormwood...with a less bitter cousin called Southern-Wormwood, also known as "Petite Absinthe," which allows us to offer Absente in the United States."[4] This is inaccurate, as petite absinthe refers invariably to 'roman wormwood' (Artemisia pontica)[5] throughout credible distillation treatises[6], while 'southernwood' is historically referred to as aurone, abrotone, or armoise citronelle[7], and is scarcely ever mentioned, if at all. Absente's website goes on to explain, "By maintaining a form of wormwood in Absente, we are able to truly call Absente a modern Absinthe."