Mace

What is mace spray?

Though mace spray and pepper spray are often thought of as the same thing, historically, there was actually a difference between the two. Mace used to be a type of tear gas, which is an irritant rather than an inflammatory. Its effects included burning of the eyes and irritation of the lungs and nasal passages. Another difference between mace and pepper spray was the duration of the effects; a dose of mace could cause suffering for hours, while pepper spray generally wears off in under one hour.

Probably the most interesting difference between the two products is that the historical formula of mace, which was discontinued over 15 years ago, was far less effective on people under the influence of drugs and alcohol, which made it less useful for many of its key purposes. There is some debate as to whether pepper spray was entirely effective on incapacitating people under the influence, but it seemed to have slightly more of an impact.

The reason why we still use the term “mace” is that, after the discontinuation, Mace became a brand name and began marketing pepper spray. Nowadays, the two terms are used interchangeably.

One of the benefits of mace as a personal self defense product is that it is sold in small aerosol canisters that can be kept in a purse or pocket and are easy to operate with fail-proof nozzles and easy-to-handle designs. Although legal in many states, there are often age requirements and transaction requirements that must be met before a person can purchase mace.

Although mace is reasonably easy to operate, it may be beneficial to take a class on how and when to use it. Often, learning to use mace and other self defense products is part of the curriculum of a self defense training program, which can not only teach you technical defense skills but also help you develop the quick thinking and cool head required in dangerous situations.

Why Is Mace Essential for Self Defense?

  • Easy to operate, even with no prior training
  • Instantly effective in incapacitating attackers
  • Convenient for carrying around at all times

Things to Consider When Buying Mace

  • Have you researched the legal requirements for owning mace in your state?
  • Do you know the difference between mace and pepper spray?
  • Do you feel comfortable operating the product or do you need to look into training?

Top Brands of Mace

  • Mace pepper spray
  • Wildfire mace spray
  • Streetwise mace spray