FAQs

What is pepper spray?
Pepper spray, also known as OC spray (from "Oleoresin Capsicum), is a lachrymatory agent (irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and in some cases temporary blindness). The active ingredient in pepper spray is capsaicin, which is a chemical derived from the fruit of plants in the Capsicum genus, which includes chili peppers. Pepper spray is a mix of capsaicin and other components stored in pressurized containers. It is used against attackers to temporarily disable them. The effects of pepper spray include instant breathing difficulties as well as extreme eye tearing and even temporary blindness, allowing a victim time to flee and contact local authorities.

What is pepper gel?
A blend of OC pepper suspended in a sticky gel rather than the liquid of regular pepper sprays. The gel sprays farther than sprays and it stays in the intended direction (no overspray). It tends to act like glue and stick to the assailant and cannot be easily wiped away. It is ideal for indoor use due to its limited contamination and non flammability. Requires greater aim than a traditional spray.

What is pepper foam?
An aerosol of OC pepper and foam combined to produce a shaving cream type result. The foam has greater square coverage than gel so it is easier to cover an assailant's face. Attempts at removal simply grinds the OC pepper into the skin, making its effect even greater. However, range is similar to traditional pepper sprays but much less than a gel. Foam is less susceptible to winds than sprays but more susceptible than gels.

What is pepper stream?
An OC pepper aerosol with a high impact stream pattern instead of a conical one. Ideal for outdoor use since there is less chance of blowback due to wind conditions. Can be fanned from side to side for greater coverage. Usually has further reach than conical spray, but requires better aim.

What is a pepper fogger?
An aerosol with a large conical spray pattern, OC pepper spray distributes large amounts of product into larger areas, creating a barrier of fine mist between victim and attacker while indoors or outside. Good for multiple assailants, crowd control, and correctional use. Difficult to aim at an individual assailant due to its large coverage. Very effective due to its fine mist properties.

What is Mace?
Mace® is a registered trademark of a particular brand of defensive spray. It is also the shortened name of the highly diversified publicly traded company Mace Security International, which manufactures the product. The term mace is used interchangeably with pepper spray, though not always correctly. Mace has been selling defensive sprays since the 1980s and its name is now synonymous with pepper spray in the public sector.

What factors should I consider when choosing the correct product for my needs:

I. Spray Pattern
The spray pattern determines spray coverage, range, cross contamination and susceptibility to wind currents. There are three types of spray patterns generally in use:

Conical - This is the most common and is usually referred to as a "spray". Coverage is wide, small droplet sizes, range is usually 6-12 ft. Highly susceptible to wind. Cross contamination is relatively high. Ideal usage is indoors, or outdoors with little or no wind.
Fogger - Very wide coverage with fine drops, designed to create a barrier which an attacker must cross to get to you . Highly susceptible to wind. Cross contamination is very high because it is designed that way. Ideal for indoor use.
Stream - Narrow coverage, requires fairly good aim at attacker's face . Very little cross contamination makes it a good choice for indoor use or crowded areas. Range is 20-25 ft. Not very susceptible to wind, so ideal for outdoor use.

II. Canister Size
Canister size factors include:

Smaller canisters can literally fit in a pocket, so are easy to conceal and carry at all times, but have limited volume content. It is important to note that the most important factor in pepper spray defense is to have one handy at all times. A great unit, sitting at home will not help you when you need it in a parking lot!
Large canisters contain more volume, hence can cover larger areas. Good for homes where conceal ability is a non-issue.
Larger canisters typically release finer size droplets than smaller canisters. Smaller droplets are desirable from a self defense perspective (easier to inhale / potential to cause effects quicker).
Larger canisters have the potential to have a longer reach, depending on the manufacturer.

III. Formulation
Depending on your needs, product ingredient combinations yield different characteristics.

OC Pepper Spray (Pepper Spray) -
Pepper spray, also known as OC spray (from "Oleoresin Capsicum). It is a lachrymatory agent ( irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and in some cases temporary blindness). The active ingredient in pepper spray is capsaicin, which is a chemical derived from the fruit of plants in the Capsicum, including chili peppers. Capsaicin is a capsaicinoid. The concentration of capsaicinoids in a pepper spray formulation is what determines how "hot"it really is. A powerful formulation such as the Mace® Gel product, contains 1.4% capsaicinoids concentration while bear pepper spray typically contains 2.0 %.Scoville Heat Units are another way to measure the "hotness" of pepper spray. However, it is imprecise since it relies on human tasters. It can be used more for comparison purposes than for actual scientific results. When choosing a pepper spray for "hotness", it is best to rely on capsaicinoid concentration instead of Scoville heat units.
CS Tear Gas -
The mayor benefit is that the attacker will be affected by the gas if say, you are only able to hit him on the chest. However, CS Gas takes longer to affect the attacker, which is why it is typically combined with pepper spray. Profuse tearing and a heavy blurring sensation are the typical effects caused by this gas. As a last benefit, Tear Gas / OC Pepper combinations are generally legal in all states (confirm actual product, approvals vary).
UV Dye -
UV dyes are invisible to the naked eye yet will reveal themselves under ultraviolet exposure. Most UV dyes stay on the skin at least 24 and can really help law enforcement identify attackers.

IV. Price -
Price should be your last consideration since it could affect the quality and longevity of the product. A well known name brand may have characteristics over generic brands which make it more desireable in the long run. Characteristics such as sturdier construction, patented formulations and state-of-the art delivery systems could in the long run result in a more reliable unit and when it comes to safety, you should purchase the most you can afford.