Mace Spray is NOT Pepper Spray

People confuse pepper spray with Mace so frequently that most would tend to refer to any type of defense spray by that title. This is not correct, however, Mace is a particular brand name of defense spray products. It was the prevalent form of defense spray in the United States for many years, until pepper sprays were introduced. Pepper spray is a more natural substance, made from an extract of hot cayenne peppers that is mixed with a resin so it can be shot out of a small canister. Mace is a man made chemical agent that is a form of tear gas.

Good And Bad Aspects
There are some differences between Mace and pepper spray.  Both items produce the same results: diminished vision, watery eyes, choking, gagging and sometimes even vomiting. A person who is hit with these sprays will be incapacitated for about 20 minutes, and often significantly longer. Unlike pepper spray, Mace can do permanent damage to some individuals, although this rarely occurs. The effects of pepper spray may be long lasting, but they are never permanent. This factor has led to pepper spray being used far more often than Mace.

Pepper spray is generally an extremely potent weapon, but since its key ingredient comes from actual peppers, sometimes the strength can vary. It is possible to end up with a weaker batch of peppers that will not produce a high quality defense spray product. Reputable manufacturers of pepper spray have strict testing guidelines in order to create a highly effective weapon.

How Hot Is It?
There is a method for determining exactly how hot a pepper is. The results are shown on a scale known as Scoville Heat Units. The higher the Scoville rating, the hotter the pepper. The hottest pepper than any person usually eats gets a score of several thousand heat units, which is pretty intense. Pepper spray generally starts out in the 100,000 range, and that's the low end of the spectrum. To put it succinctly, these sprays are blisteringly hot.

You can purchase either type of defense spray when you are in need of a good weapon for your personal protection, but keep in mind that Mace and pepper spray are not one in the same.

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