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Mace Spray Ingredients

Mace and pepper spray are commonly used forms of self-defense. Both employ the use of pain-inducing chemicals directed at the eyes of a potential assailant. Mace is typically considered to be the more effective of the two. Mace uses a form of tear gas to repel an attacker by rendering them temporarily blind, thus incapacitating them while the victim escapes and seeks help.

  1. Tear Gas

    • Mace, which is designed to be an eye irritant, immediately induces pain in the assailant's eyes as well as induce tears. The primary ingredient in mace is either chlorobenzalmalononitril (CS), also called o-Chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile; or Alphachloroacetaphenone (CN). Both chemicals intend to irritate the tissue around the membrane of the eye.

    Particulate Suspension

    • Most brands of mace include a solution that consists of particulate matter. The suspension helps to bind the CS or CN to the assailant's skin. Most liquid suspensions dissipate as they dry. Particulates, however, remain present and active. Rewetting the particulates reactivates them. This is used in mace to prolong the effects of the tear gas and keep the assailant incapacitated.

    Pepper Spray

    • Some brands of mace use the same active ingredient as pepper spray. Pepper spray uses oil extracted from cayenne peppers as the primary ingredient. Unlike CN or CS, pepper spray is not an eye irritant. Pepper spray is classified as an inflammatory, which causes the capillaries in the eyes to dilate. By spontaneously dilating the assailant's eyes, they become blinded by a sudden increased sensitivity to light. The pepper oil helps to induce a burning sensation as well, and may also affect the sinuses and respiratory tract.

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