By far the most popular non-deadly, self-defense product on the market today is pepper spray or as it is frequently called, mace or "OC pepper spray." In the past few years its popularity has grown. It has now become the primary personal defense device preferred by more average law-keeping individuals than any other defensive weapon. A few top selling brands are Pepper Shot, Mace and Wildfire.

What is there to know about mace pepper spray and how it works? Pepper spray is made from the naturally occurring, nontoxic chemical called Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) found in hot pepper plants. OC is the active ingredient in the hot peppers. The effectiveness or hotness of pepper spray is calculated in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). SHU is a scale developed in 1912 by an American chemist named Wilbur Scoville to gauge the hotness or spiciness of a variety of peppers. The number of SHU assigned to a particular pepper indicates the amount of capsaicin that is present. As an example, an ordinary bell pepper is rated at 0 SHU since it has no capsaicin, but Jalapeno's are rated at 5000 and a Habanero is 250,000-300,000 SHU for their potency. In order for a pepper spray to be effective on an aggressor it should be rated at 2 million SHU, however, some law enforcement strength pepper spray is rated even higher at 5 million.

OC pepper spray is an inflammatory agent, that when sprayed in the face of an assailant, will force the eyes to close immediately, it also causes temporary blindness, difficulty in breathing, a runny nose and an irrepressible cough that will send him to his knees. Defense spray is also very effectual on "perps" under the influence of illicit drugs, alcohol, or suffering with a severe mental disorder. The effects of defense spray usually last from thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on the potency of the spray, with diminished effects lasting for several hours. Usually the attacker will fully recover from the effects of pepper spray once it completely wears off and he will not endure any lasting unpleasant aftereffects.

The OC in pepper spray can't be wash off with water regardless of how much is used. The most effective way to diminish the symptoms of pepper spray affecting the eyes is by blinking rapidly to bring about tearing. This will help to flush the irritant from the eyes. Additionally, to prevent the burning sensation from spreading to other parts of the body it is best to avoid touching the affected spots. Rubbing oils or creams onto the affected areas will trap the capsaicin in the skin pores resulting in a more severe burning sensation and possibly cause blistering.

Pepper spray normally comes in canisters, which are often miniature enough in size to be carried or hidden away inside a pocket or purse. Defense spray can also be bought disguised as ordinary items such as rings, lipstick, or some other everyday object such as a pager or pen. Additionally, pepper spray will expire after about 3-4 years due to the aerosol propellant escaping from the container. If used after the expiration date, it might not spray as expected. The expiration date of some models can be found on the label.

Overall mace defense sprays are considered by civilians to be the best non-lethal self-defense devices available. It is not considered deadly force to use them; therefore, they are legal in most states and with no special permit being required. Nevertheless, there are some states that do limit the possession and application of pepper spray. In New York state pepper spray can only be purchased from a certified pharmacist or firearms merchant. Massachusetts also requires defense spray to be purchased from a commonwealth sanctioned firearms broker. In the state and Wisconsin, OC in pepper spray cannot exceed 2%, and in Wisconsin, it cannot go over 10%. In California and Florida only 2oz size containers of pepper spray are legal. When traveling, OC cannot be taken on board any airplane for safety reasons. Before making your purchase it would be a good idea to check with your local police department for laws or restrictions governing the possession and use of pepper spray.