Pepper Spray Facts

Pepper Spray is an aerosol spray used for self-defense and personal protection. Pepper Spray is a self defense spray that consists of a concentrated agent injected into a pressurized canister and dispersed, or sprayed, by aerosol.

The concentrated or active agent is Oleoresin Capsicum. Oleoresin Capsicum is a derivative of various hot pepper plants and is the chemical that gives peppers their hot quality. For this reason defense sprays are often called pepper sprays. Also, Oleoresin Capsicum is known as “OC” for short. That is why pepper spray is commonly referred to as OC pepper spray.

What is Mace?

Over the last several years the popularity of self defense sprays, mistakenly called Mace, has grown considerably.

Just as many people mistakenly refer to soft drinks or cold drinks as “Coke” or refer to a photocopy as a “Xerox,” many people refer to defense sprays as “Mace.”

Mace is a brand marketed by Mace Security International (MSI). MSI originally marketed a particular tear gas self defense spray. Today, Mace brand defense sprays either contain OC pepper, tear gas or both.

Guardian Self Defense carries a huge selection of Mace defensive sprays.

What is Tear Gas?

There are three major chemicals used as tear gases:

1. CS
2. CN
3. CR

The first two are CS and CN, short for orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile and chloroacetophenone, respectively.

A third, code named CR (dibenz(b,f)-1,4-oxazepin), has not come into civilian use.

Both CS and CN tear gas are synthesized chemicals known as lachrymators. A lachrymator is a substance that produces profuse tearing.

At standard temperature and pressure, these chemicals are actually white crystals with fairly low vapor pressures, not gasses, and they are not very soluble in water. In order to disperse them, they are suspended in a liquid carrier and aerosolized.

Pepper Spray vs. Tear Gas

Pepper spray is not tear gas. Tear gas is not pepper spray.

Pepper spray is a self defense spray. Tear gas can be used as a self defense spray.

Two important differences between pepper spray and tear gas are:

1. Tear gas is an irritant to membrane tissues. They cause stinging pain and tearing and take from 5 to 30 seconds to be effective. In cases of persons who are drunk, on drugs, suffering a psychotic episode, or otherwise cannot feet pain, there may be no affect at all as tear gas relies on pain compliance to be effective. Tear gas has a high toxicity level.

Pepper spray is not an irritant. If is an inflammatory agent; and this makes all the difference in the world. When a person is sprayed with OC two things happen instantly. First, the person's eyes clamp shut, hard. Not only that, but if they do manage to open them they still can't see because the pepper spray dilates the capillaries of the eye and causes temporary blindness. Second, an immediate fit of uncontrollable coughing doubles the person over and often sends them to their knees. The pepper spray causes instant inflammation of breathing tissues, restricting all but life support breathing. The condition is temporary but very debilitating. Pepper Spray has the affect of putting up a brick wall between the assailant and the victim. OC pepper spray has been proven to be effective against individuals who are drunk, on drugs, or suffering a psychotic episode. Pepper sprays also work well on animals. OC pepper spray is 100% non-toxic, safe and will cause no permanent damage.

The Facts About Defense Sprays And How To Use Them To Bring Criminals To Their Knees

We recommend "The Facts About Defense Sprays and How to Use Them to Bring Criminals To Their Knees" by Doug Lamb. This 32 page book reveals the secrets of: choosing a defensive spray, how to carry it, how to shoot it, what to do when faced with multiple attackers, date rape protection, using defensive sprays against guns or knives, home and tactical use and much more about how to protect yourself!

Are All Pepper Sprays the Same?

No, all pepper sprays are not the same.

OC usually comes in concentrations of 1%, 5% and 10%. But, due to the number of differences in the formulation , these percentages are not necessarily a good indication of the effectiveness of the pepper spray. A 1% spray can be just as effective if not more so, than a 5% or 10% concentration. Three formula factors: the heat rating of the OC, the type of carrier agent, and the spray density, combine to determine how effective any given spray is.

The heat generating capacity of OC is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU's). OC is derived from hot peppers. Peppers range from 0 SHU's for standard bell peppers to 5,000 for Jalapeno peppers up to 250,000 to 350,000 SHU's for Habanera peppers. Pure OC has a heat rating of 15 million. As you can see a 10% concentration of Jalapeno peppers is not going to be nearly as effective as a 1% concentration of Habanera peppers. In actual spray formulations OC from the peppers is processed until it reaches a heat rating as high as 2,000,000 SHU's.

All of Guardian Self Defense's pepper sprays are rated a 2 - 3 million Scoville Heat Units!

The next factor is the carrier agent of the OC pepper spray. The job of the carrier agent is to hold the OC solution and aid in dispersal once it is released from the pressurized canister. Common carrier agents are alcohol, ketone, and other solvents and oils. The best, and safest carrier agent available is HFC 134A. It not only holds the OC in solution but also helps break down the OC into the smallest possible micron-sized droplets once released.

Guardian Self Defense carries Pepper Shot and Mace brand OC pepper sprays which use HFC 134A as a carrier agent!

The third factor determining OC spray effectiveness is the spray pattern and dispersal density. These two closely related spray characteristics also determine the droplet size sprayed at the assailant. The smaller the air born droplet size the more effective the spray will be under most conditions because of its ability to be inhaled quickly and completely and to disperse quickly onto membrane tissues. This release the heat and inflammation capabilities as efficiently as possible in the shortest time possible; usually one second.

The Physical Effects of Pepper Spray

Pepper Spray has four physiological effects that may be experienced:

1. Eyes – tearing, involuntary closing or complete closing due to dilation of the eye capillaries. Eyes will appear red/bloodshot for 30 to 60 minutes. People wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses will be equally affected.

2. Respiratory System – immediate inflammation, including swelling of the throat lining which can restrict the airway size. Respiratory functions return to normal within 10 to 45 minutes. The airway will be open enough to allow for sufficient oxygen flow for survival. Due to the reduced airway flow, the person will probably not receive enough oxygen to continue fighting or other sustained physical exertion. Temporary paralysis of the larynx. Uncontrollable coughing, retching, and gasping for air with a gagging sensation in the throat.

3. Effect on the skin: inflammation of the exposed skin with a burning sensation.

4. Effects on muscle coordination: pepper spray exposure may cause a person to lose balance due to the effect of pepper spray on vision.

How Can I Be Assured My Pepper Spray Will Work When I Need It?

Practice, Practice, Practice. Learn how to use your pepper spray, where the safety device is and how to disable it quickly. You should get in the habit of testing your defense spray every 90 days. To do this first go outside and determine which direction the wind is blowing. Remember to always stand upwind from the direction you are spraying. Depress the firing mechanism for ½ second. This test should be performed upon purchase and every 90 days after that. Be aware that every time you test your spray you reduce the contents of the canister. If you are using a key chain model and you test regularly you will need to replace the unit every 9 to 12 months if you follow the recommended testing procedure above.

How Long Will My Pepper Spray Last?

Most pepper sprays have an expiration date stamped on the canister, usually 2 to 4 years from the time of manufacture.

Although the spray life is indefinite it does start to lose potency over time. Any use of the spray beyond the expiration date is highly unadvisable. We strongly advise you to replace your pepper spray long before the expiration date! That way you are always assured of the potency of the spray.

Take your old one to a safe place and target practice with it. Become familiar with how far it will spray, how to unlock it, etc. When practicing with your defensive spray, be aware of air movements and wind patterns and be very careful not to contaminate yourself.

What spray pattern is most effective?

OC sprays generally come in three spray patterns: a thin stream, a cone-shaped mist, and a fog. In terms of technical effectiveness the fogger spray is the most effective, the cone mist second, and the stream spray third. However, the mean streets are not the laboratory.

A stream spray is not as effective as the fogger or mist because the stream tends to trap the OC in the carrier; it does not release it as effectively as a mist or fog. However, there are advantages to the stream. A stream spray has a greater range up to 20 feet. And, at the end of the stream the OC does break up into small droplets. A good stream shot directly in the face is likely to stop all but the most determined attackers. Also, a stream is not as effected by breezes and wind as a cone mist or fog. Even in a pretty stiff breeze a good stream spray still has good range and is unlikely to come back at you if you shoot into the wind.

Cone mists have a wider spray pattern and finer density than the stream sprays. They are considered by many to be more effective when they hit the assailant and be more likely to have "instant' stopping power than the stream spray. A good cone mist OC spray will stop a determined attacker in two steps. They are also good for creating spray "barriers" during retreat and for multiple attackers. There are however, two drawbacks to cone mist sprays. First, their range can be less than a stream spray. A typical range is 8-10 feet. Second, cone mists can be uncontrollable in a wind. A mild breeze has a definite affect on both the range and direction of the spray. Spraying directly into a good breeze may affect the sprayer. It is essential for those using cone mists to realize they must spray and move away quickly.

Fogger sprays put out a super fine mist similar to fire extinguishers and are generally considered to be the most effective in terms of stopping power. An attacker caught in an OC fog is virtually helpless instantly. The slightest intake of breathe takes the mist directly to the sensitive lung tissue and makes all but life support breathing difficult. Due to their nozzle and high canister pressure most foggers have a range of 15-20 feet. They are only slightly affected by breezes outdoors and work well even against the wind. Foggers are excellent for creating a barrier while escaping an attack because the fog tends to hang in the air. For this reason they are the most affective spray type for multiple attackers.

The History of Pepper Spray

Oleoresin capsicum spray was developed at the University of Georgia by Professor James H. Jenkins and Dr. Frank Hayes, D.V.M., in 1960. That formula under the brand name Halt Animal Repellent was first sold in 1963. Like tear gas, oleoresin capsicum (OC) is non-lethal and induces temporary incapacitation with no known long-term effects. In 1989 the Firearms Training Unit (FTU) of the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, completed three years of intensive research on OC, following which the FBI authorized the use of OC for its special agents and SWAT teams. In addition, OC has proven effective against domestic and wild animals without endangering the animals or the environment. OC, in proper dispensing systems, has been successfully used to stop grizzly bear attacks in Alaska and pit bull dog attacks in California and Texas. The US Postal Service also issues OC to its letter carriers and animal control facilities also issue animal repellent to its officers to protect them from dog bites.

The History of Scoville Heat Units (SHU’s)

Scoville Heat Units (SHU's) is the measurement of the “hotness” of pepper.

All types of chili peppers, including green peppers, jalapenos, and habaneras, all contain an unusually powerful compound found in no other plant, an alkaloid called capsaicin.

Capsaicin is the horticultural term for the genus that chili peppers are classified. A single drop of tasteless and odorless capsaicin in 100,000 drops of water is very noticeable. In fact, capsaicin can be detected by humans at one part per million.

In 1912, pharmacologist Wilbur Scoville developed a standard for measuring the power of capsaicin: the Scoville Organaleptic Test.

Scoville measured exact weights of chili peppers and dissolved the capsaicin in alcohol. This solution was then diluted with sugar water until it was no longer detectable to the human palate. A panel of five taste testers would taste the solution and three of them had to agree before a value was assigned. If, for example, it took 1,000 parts of water to one part of capsaicin, it was said to have 1,000 Scoville Heat Units.

This method was useful for calculating the temperature of peppers used in many pharmaceutical products such has heat rubs. Today, high-performance liquid chromatography is used to measure the capsaicin content in peppers. It measures capsaicin levels in parts per million which is then converted to Scoville Heat Units (SHU’s). The pepper scale ranges from zero Scoville Heat Units for a bell pepper to 5,000 or so SHU’s for a jalapeno, to a whopping 200,000 to 300,000 SHU’s for a habanera. Pure capsaicin is 15,000,000 SHU’s.

Check out all of our pepper sprays!

Back to Home Page

Pepper Spray Resources

Self Defense Products and Personal Protection

Pepper Spray Facts