The term "anisic acid" often refers to this form specifically.

[1] p-Anisic acid is found naturally in anise.

[citation needed] It was first synthesized in 1841 by Auguste Cahours by oxidizing anethole that he had isolated from anise by recrystallization with diluted nitric acid:[5][6] Oxidation of anisaldehyde, which was Cahours' intermediate product, is still used nowadays.

[7] Anisic acid can also be obtained synthetically by the oxidation of p-methoxyacetophenone.

[8] It is also used as an intermediate in the preparation of more complex organic compounds.