WHAT IS PEPPER SPRAY ANYWAY? HOW DOES IT WORK?

The self defense pepper spray is a natural chemical compound formulated from oils and residue from several varieties of hot pepper plants. The formulations are called OC(Oleo Capsicum) sprays and are the most accessible defense sprays available to the general population. There are at least forty brands in various sizes, spray patterns and formulation concentrations.


OC pepper spray is an inflammatory agent and not an irritant like manmade chemical defense sprays. This is very significant because a person sprayed with OC has two things happen to them immediately. Instantly, the attacker’s eyes will clamp shut and clamp shut HARD. Even if the person can get their eyes open, vision is very distorted as the OC opens up the capillaries of the eye and causes a temporary blindness. Uncontrollable coughing spasms are the second major and instantaneous effect of a spray to the face of an attacker. These effects are harsh enough to bring even a large assailant to their knees. The cause of this temporary but VERY debilitating condition is due to the total inflammation of breathing tissues, which will restrict all but life support breathing.

Using OC spray is the equivalent of putting up a brick wall between victim and attacker. The person sprayed will stop what they are doing and stop what they are thinking - PERIOD. It has been said by long time law enforcement professionals that “It’s like being hit with a flame thrower.” No matter how drunk or how high or how psychotic, the effect on the creep is the same.

Because it is a natural plant derivative, pepper spray wears off in about twenty to thirty minutes depending on concentration and weather conditions. The attacker suffers NO harmful effects and makes a complete recovery with NO long-lasting harmful side effects. OC spray is non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and has never been found to harm skin tissues in available concentrations.

You will need to determine what concentration will work best for you and what pepper varieties were used in making a particular OC spray. The heat generated by OC sprays is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU’s) and all peppers have different SHU values. Regular bell peppers have zero SHU’s while Jalapeno peppers have approximately 5000SHU’s. Habanero peppers, on the other hand, have SHU’s in the 250,000 to 300,000 range. Certainly, a 1% concentration concocted from Habanero peppers is way more powerful and effective than even a 10% formulation from Jalapeno peppers. You will need to ask questions concerning what your 10,15, or 18% OC pepper spray is formulated from and what the SHU value is. Many sprays are a combination and are very effective. By finding this information out you will be able to make a better decision regarding which one to purchase.

Different spray patterns and dispersal density will be the subject for my next article, so please be watching for it because these factors are also important considerations concerning your buying decisions. Until then, stay safe!