| Many women wonder how to protect themselves | | | | needed] |
| against unwanted situations in which just a little | | | | A synthetic analogue of capsaicin, pelargonic acid |
| pepper spray could in some instances save their lives. | | | | vanillylamide (desmethyldihydrocapsaicin), is used in |
| I put together this article to explain what a pepper | | | | another version of pepper spray known as PAVA |
| spray is, and what is made out of, and how it can | | | | spray which is used in the United Kingdom. Another |
| protect any woman that needs that extra assurance | | | | synthetic counterpart of pepper spray, pelargonic |
| to make sure they are better protected to an | | | | acid morpholide, was developed and is widely used in |
| unpleasant encounter! | | | | Russia. Its effectiveness compared to natural pepper |
| Pepper spray, also known as OC spray (from | | | | spray is unclear. |
| "Oleoresin Capsicum"), OC gas, and capsicum spray, is | | | | Pepper spray typically comes in canisters, which are |
| a lachrymatory agent (a chemical compound that | | | | often small enough to be carried or concealed in a |
| irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and even | | | | pocket or purse. Pepper spray can also be bought |
| temporary blindness) that is used in riot control, | | | | concealed in items such as rings. There are also |
| crowd control, and personal self-defense, including | | | | pepper spray projectiles available, which can be fired |
| defense against dogs and bears. | | | | from a paintball gun. It has been used for years |
| The active ingredient in pepper spray is capsaicin, | | | | against demonstrators. |
| which is a chemical derived from the fruit of plants in | | | | I found this great line of pepper sprays offered by |
| the Capsicum genus, including chilis. Extraction of | | | | Pro Safety Technologies. My first recommendations is |
| oleoresin capsicum from peppers involves finely | | | | the Pepper Shot. |
| ground capsicum, from which capsaicin is extracted in | | | | Pepper Shot is a 10% pepper spray rated at 2 |
| an organic solvent such as ethanol. | | | | million scoville heat units and made with a very fine |
| The solvent is then evaporated, and the remaining | | | | grain that is more effective than the coarser grains |
| waxlike resin is the oleoresin capsicum. An emulsifier | | | | of most other pepper sprays. In addition to causing |
| such as propylene glycol is used to suspend the OC | | | | an attacker pain, Pepper Shot swells the mucous |
| in water, and pressurized to make it aerosol in | | | | membranes, which makes breathing difficult, and |
| pepper spray. The high performance liquid | | | | swells the veins in the eyes, causing the eyes to |
| chromatography (HPLC) method is used to measure | | | | close. These effects last 20-30 minutes and cause no |
| the amount of capsaicin within pepper sprays. Scoville | | | | permanent damage. All sprays have locking actuators |
| Heat Units (SHU) are used to measure the | | | | for extra safety. |
| concentration or "heat" of pepper spray. | | | | At under 10 bucks you cannot go wrong, I would |
| Oleoresin capsicum also is used in foods where the | | | | stock up and give some to your family and friends, |
| flavor and piquancy are desired without visible pepper | | | | especially at this price! Definitely worth it! |
| specks, or to standardize the Scoville units.[citation | | | | |