Important introductory Disclaimers, Provisos, and Warnings: The author has no affiliation with the companies selling the products mentioned in this article. No financial or other benefits have been derived, and no sponsorship is involved. The product testing mentioned in this article was not conducted scientifically, and was conducted only for the sake of curiosity. Testing chemical agents on yourself is not recommended, and is potentially hazardous to life and health. You should not attempt to replicate the test described in this article, and you should not use chemical agents on yourself, other people, or animals, except in self-defense and in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. Be advised that state and local laws vary widely, so be sure to check on them before you carry any sort of self-defense tool. Follow all manufacturer instructions related to any products you purchase or use. The author and publisher of this article assume no liability for your actions.

The first choice in less-lethal or nonlethal defense is typically OC – oleoresin capsicum, or pepper. It is especially marketed to women, who are often encouraged to keep a small canister in a pocket or a purse. Are they effective? Are some types better than others? How do you know? What is the difference between OC products and products labeled as “CS” or “CN” or products that contain a combination?

As a brief description, Pepper or OC products are naturally-derived from plants. They come in different forms – fog, liquid, foam, and gel. Most of these products are sold in a pressurized miniature aerosol can. Fog disperses the product more widely, but carries a high risk of wind blowing it back into the user’s face. Think of spray paint…you usually get some of that one you, right? Liquid sprays are similar to water from a squirt gun. Foam and gel also have that nature, except they are designed to be sticky or soapy in order to cling to the recipient’s face. Most liquid products have the greatest range, typically around 15 feet. Very large liquid canisters (not individually portable) can reach up to 30 to 40 feet, depending on weather conditions. Foam and gel are perhaps effective at 10 feet.

Products labeled as CS/CN are chemically-synthesized products. The chemical is a type of tear gas or irritant, called 2-chlorobenzalmalononitril. This works somewhat differently than OC, which is an inflammatory agent. OC products are supposed to begin working immediately, whereas CS/CN products sometimes take up to 5 seconds to begin working. This can be a problem, as liquid and aerosol products are only useful at contact distances. How much damage can somebody do in 5 seconds? How far can somebody run in 5 seconds? Are any products effective enough, rapidly enough, to spare you from death or physical harm from a determined assailant that is at contact distance?

I started asking these questions about OC and CS/CN spray about 15 years ago. At the time, I worked at a store that sold military equipment, surplus items, and law enforcement products. At the time, any defensive OC or CS/CN spray was often generically referred to as “mace” after the Mace brand name. I noticed, however, that police officers were not carrying that brand and were using a couple of different products. I heard anecdotes that some people could see through pepper spray and wouldn’t be stopped. As my mother and others that I knew carried pepper spray as a primary means of self-defense, I needed to find a way to test them. But there was a problem – I could not find any willing participants! I ended up testing various products on myself. Ouch! In the process, I also found out that there are ways of decontaminating yourself and reducing the pain once you have been exposed.

My first exposure to OC/CS/CN agents was the aforementioned self-test. I tried a Mace brand (a CS product) pocket size defense spray, a Sabre Red law enforcement size can (an OC product), an American Defender brand pocket-sized OC spray, and an OC spray called “Streetwise” that seemed to be a knock-off of something else. As there was not much information on the internet at the time, I figured that if milk and break absorb capsaicin in your mouth, the same could be used for something in your face. On a summer day without wind, I wore a t-shirt and shorts I could get rid of, and went outside with my four painful products, a jug of milk, and a loaf of Wonder Bread.

I tried Mace brand first. I held the can at arm’s length and sprayed myself right in the face. The effect was unpleasant and tingly, and my eyes made a lot of tears. But to my surprise, I was able to see through it. If I’d been a criminal attacking somebody, it would have just made me mad and not stopped me. So, at least on me, Mace doesn’t work. I cleaned my face with a piece of bread, a bit of milk, and some soap and water. It helped somewhat. After a while, I looked in the mirror and my eyes were a bit red, but I was able to continue testing.

I tried the American Defender spray next. The effect was about the same as the Mace, even though they are two different chemicals. I could see through it. I got a bit in my mouth, and it irritated my throat and tongue. I would not say that you could use it as hot sauce on a hamburger, but it didn’t work either. I cleaned myself up again with a couple of slices of bread, some milk, and soapy water.

Undeterred, I tried “Streetwise.” Apparently, “Streetwise” is not such a wise choice, as it was no more effective than the first two. Again, I went inside for another round of cleanup. The cumulative effect of getting repeatedly sprayed was starting to make me miserable. My nose and eyes were burning, my tongue was on fire, and I was seriously contemplating not continuing. But I went on to test the final product – Sabre Red OC spray. The kind the local police at the time were carrying. Just like before, I went back outside, held the can at arm’s length, and sprayed myself in the face. Oh my, the pain! This stuff worked well. My eyes were mostly forced to stay shut, and breathing became difficult. I did not let the effects linger too long, as I scampered back to the bathroom with milk, bread, and soap. It took a lot of scrubbing to get rid of it and begin to feel normal again. So, after that test, I was able to recommend to family and friends that Sabre Red seemed to be effective, and to discontinue carrying other brands.

My second exposure to OC/CS/CN agents came when I began working for a state agency. As part of training, recruits endured a number of painful things including a Taser, a room full of CS gas, and pepper spray. The room full of gas was an interesting experience, as we went in first with a mask on, but were then ordered to take the mask off and attempt to breathe normally. They warned that it might be a bad experience for people who have asthma. I can agree with that, as I spent a long time coughing afterwards and my lungs burned for about 45 minutes with every single breath. If you find yourself in a riot situation where the authorities have deployed CS gas canisters, you will know it without a doubt. But just like my experience with Mace brand spray, CS does not seem to incapacitate me or many others. I was able to see and work through it. If necessary, I could have fought hand-to-hand or used a weapon. It is my considered opinion that CS/CN products for personal self-defense are a poor choice.

During my agency training, I learned that if you get sprayed by Sabre Red or another OC product, there is a special solution you can use to wash it away. The Sabre company has a two-pack solution which is available for purchase online. One bottle is labeled “Cleanse” and the other is labeled “Soothe.” I wish that during my initial self-tests I had known about those products. I was sprayed and exposed to the powder inside shotgun pepper balls, and the effect was as painful as I remembered from my first tests. But using the cleaning solutions took the pain away rapidly, and prevented a lot of unwanted eye watering, puffiness, and lengthy recovery time. If you think that you might be exposed to OC or CS/CN agents, a few bottles of cleansing solution could be money well spent.

After the testing and painful experiences, I can recommend several products to you. For a basic self-defense spray, Sabre Red seems to be the best. It is trusted by many law enforcement agencies, and you can get it in a small 1-ounce size, a medium 2.5-ounce size, or a larger 4.5-ounce size (which is what the police usually carry.) However, because aerosol cans do not do well in a hot car and wind can blow the spray back into your face, there is another option. Kimber, the company that makes quality 1911 pistols, has produced a pyrotechnically-released OC product. Known as the “Pepper Blaster II,” it looks like a little derringer pistol and even has sights. The unit is about the size of a Ruger LCP .380 pistol, and is extremely light. It holds two shots, and sends the spray out at over 100 mph. This is fast enough to avoid the effects of wind, although if you are face with multiple attackers the two-shot limitation could be a disadvantage. While I usually do not carry pepper spray, when I do it is always the Kimber Pepper Blaster II.

For more exotic uses, you can get pepper spray in large containers. I bought one for my mother that almost looks like a small fire extinguisher. She keeps that by her front door. Sabre Red brand makes them, and if you live in the city and need something to discourage a yard full of unfriendly people, you can use a large can as an “area denial” weapon. Just like a fire extinguisher, you pull the pin, aim at the source of the problem, squeeze, and sweep. It has a range of approximately 30 feet, perhaps up to 50 feet. If you use something like this, assume that you will need to decontaminate yourself afterwards. If you believe that could be a problem, there are grenade-style area devices you can use. “Fox Labs” and “Clear Out” are a couple of brands that I have, although I have not tested them. They are exotic/boutique products, and you will pay around $40 each.

Let me add some advice about legality. One reason I do not regularly carry pepper spray is that it is considered a weapon. While police are permitted to use it more freely to subdue people who are resisting arrest, in civilian hands there is little legal difference between using OC/CS/CN and using a gun or a knife. It is not a casual thing, and misuse of these products will get you put in jail for assault. If somebody has a bad reaction to it and ends up in medical trouble (or dies), you will be liable for that. Threatening somebody with it will be considered the same as threatening with any other weapon. Due to these factors, I do not find OC/CS/CN products very useful in my daily life. There are many things that these products will not do that a firearm will, without the limitations. OC/CS/CN are not useful against snakes and garden pests.

Due to limitations of range and weather conditions, a firearm can hit where a chemical agent cannot. Chemical agents are of limited use against people who can work through them, have a lot of adrenalin in their system, or are on drugs. For me, OC/CS/CN are products I would carry in addition to a firearm, rather than instead of one. However, even doing that can leave you open to questions about your use of force. For example, if you must use your firearm in self-defense, a prosecutor will most likely ask why you used it instead of the chemical agent that was available to you. Can you answer that unfair question?

OC/CS/CN products are useful for discouraging large groups of rioters, and that is a primary use for law enforcement. They are also useful for people who cannot legally possess or carry a firearm, or those who do not wish to carry a firearm for moral reasons. They are also useful for people who have physical issues, as they are usually very light and easy to use even with minimal hand strength. These products have a place in the arsenal of those who wish to be prepared, but make your choice with reasonable expectations about their purpose and the conditions for use.