Mace and Pepper Spray are Not the Same!
You may hear people say mace or pepper spray, and wonder if there is a difference between the two.
The answer is yes!
They are two completely different compounds that produce different reactions. Here are some of the key differences between the two products.
Make note of these pepper spray vs mace points of interest
- Mace is classified as an irritant and is sometimes called CS gas or CN tear gas
- Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent OC (oleoresin capsicum) that temporarily blinds and incapacitates the target
- Mace is less effective when the target is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Pepper spray, on the other hand, will still have an effect on those targets and will cause temporary blindness
- Mace is also a brand name associated with pepper spray, self-defense, and security products
- CN Mace has possible toxic effects when an individual is exposed to large amounts of the substance, whereas pepper spray has a safer and less toxic side effects
- Sometimes people use “mace” as a slang term for pepper spray
Top Mace Products Compared
5 Foot Range
Cone Pattern
6 Bursts
4 Gram Net Weight
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10 Foot Range
Stream Pattern
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11 Gram Net Weight
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20 Foot Range
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28 Gram Net Weight
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25 Foot Range
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6 Seconds of Spray
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The History
Mace is known for being used by police as a means of self-defense, and to control crowds and riots. Originally called Chemical Mace, it was invented by Allan Lee Litman in 1965 for the Smith and Wesson Company.
The original chemical makeup of mace was a CN gas, or tear gas, mixed with an aerosol propellant designed to be sprayed in a target’s face to temporarily incapacitate them.
It was later proven to be ineffective against individuals who were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It also leads to the injury of 1000s of police officers. In the 1980s, mace was deemed unsafe and taken off the market.
What is Mace?
As a compound, mace is a tear gas composed of CN gas. These compounds are irritants that affect the membrane tissues, which only causes minor pain and tearing of the eyes.
The original mace products did not have the inflammatory agents that pepper spray or OC spray now have.
Mace Security is also the name of a company that produces pepper spray and other self-defense products, not to be confused with the old compound that was abandoned in the 80s.
Pepper Spray vs Mace
Due to the difference in active ingredients, law enforcement officers carry pepper spray with them today. The effects of pepper spray will stop most individuals in an instant.
These symptoms include choking, coughing and burning of the skin. The chemicals will cause all mucous membranes to swell up, and eyes to be forced shut, which causes the individual to be incapacitated.
There are still some cases where extreme intoxication or mental instability can allow the individual to overpower or ignore the effects of the chemical agent on their body.
Check Your Local Laws
If you are considering carrying pepper spray for your personal safety, make sure to check with your local law office to make sure there are no restrictions on what you can carry.
Know that unlawful use of pepper spray can lead to major fines or even jail time, so make sure only to use if you are in a life-threatening situation. Remember to always practice safety measures when handling pepper spray or mace products.
Thanks for shedding some light on this. I always wondered if pepper spray and mace were the same thing.
Do you have any recommendations on the best brand of pepper spray?
I’m a woman who frequently travels alone. I carry Sabre Red. I don’t want to kill anyone, but I don’t want to be a victim of crime either. In other words, I only carry it for protection. My small tube sprays a fine thin stream of the liquid pepper that shoots at least 15 feet (it seems). It also marks the attacker with a dye. Sabre products are made in the USA, and they have self defense instructional videos at the SabreRed website. I highly recommend these for students, joggers/walkers, women shopping alone, people walking their dogs, and for anyone that may travel alone in any area. You can carry it in your hand inconspicuously. I’m not affiliated with the SabeRed company, but I really believe in the non-lethal Sabre products, and I appreciate all the Sabre safety techniques online. I’ve never had to use my SabreRed spray, but I try to stay ready just in case. One more tip, I practice switching the lever into “off” and “on” position.
I’ve test sprayed it once.