Mace vs. Pepper Spray

If you were suddenly asked to, could you easily and correctly explain the difference between the self-defense products Mace and pepper spray? If you couldn't, you're certainly not alone. Most laypeople in today's society have very little knowledge of either products' history or inherent differences and similarities. Both Mace and pepper spray have been widely used in worldwide military operations, police activities, as well as in personal self-defense measures yet the general public is typically uneducated on the specific of either product. While both products temporarily immobilize those who come up against them, there are several key variances that everyone should be made aware of especially before purchasing either self-defense spray.

Before we get into the basic differences between Mace and pepper spray, it's important that you learn a little bit about Mace's history. Mace was originally manufactured by Lake Erie Chemical (formerly a division of Smith & Wesson) under the name "Chemical Mace"; however it is now a registered trademark of the company Mace Security International. The product Mace sold today by Mace Security International is a pepper spray rather than the tear gas that it originally contained and was named for. The original Mace was removed from the market over 15 years ago after scores of law enforcement officers were injured on duty by assailants who were under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or psychotics -all of which the Mace product of the past was ineffective against. Similar to how many people refer to most facial tissue products available on the market as "Kleenex" which is a specific branded facial tissue, most consumers unknowingly use the current brand name "Mace" to refer to all pepper sprays. The names "Mace" and "pepper spray" are frequently used interchangeably, causing much confusion. While Mace Security manufactures and markets a pepper spray product, it's only one of the personal security sprays that they make available in various markets.

Mace

• 1% CN gas in a solvent of 2-butanol, propylene glycol, cyclohexene, diproplyene and some formulations also include Oleoresin Capsicum (the active ingredient in pepper spray)
• Is classified as an irritant and is similar to tear gas.
• Has no effect on criminals under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Will not cause inflammation of the capillaries of the eyes and skin, causing temporary blindness, nausea, and breathing difficulties.
• Also a brand name associated with pepper spray products.

Pepper Spray

• Oleoresin capsicum, a chemical compound made from fruit plants of the Capsicum genus suspended in an oil base.

• Is classified as an inflammatory agent that immediately incapacitates an assailant.

• Will take down an assailant and case temporary pain to those under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

• Causes inflammation of the capillaries of the eyes and skin, causing temporary blindness, nausea, and breathing difficulties.

• Any of many non-branded, capsicum-based self-defense products.

So, while the term "Mace" can interchangeably be used to describe both an aerosol tear gas product and a pepper spray due to its brand, the general pepper spray product cannot accurately be used interchangeably with the term "Mace."