Pepper Spray Effectiveness - Does Pepper Spray Work?

What is the Best Way to Measure the Effectiveness of Pepper Spray?

Pepper Spray is defined as being effective by the speed at which it can bring an assailant into compliance or stop an assailant from attacking.

We will focus on common metrics used in determining pepper spray effectiveness, the common misconceptions in the marketplace and how to properly determine the “hotness” of pepper spray.

Figure 1 – Pepper Spray in Action

The Oleoresin Capsaicin %

The Oleoresin Capsaicin (sometimes spelled Oleoresin Capsicum), is better known as OC and is a derivative of the cayenne pepper. The OC% is a measure of how much OC is contained in the pepper spray canister relative to other ingredients such as dyes, propellants and other active and inactive ingredients.

While investigating pepper sprays to buy, consumers will find products being advertised at 2% OC and even up to 18% OC. Many consumers and even law enforcement personnel make the assumption that if a pepper spray’s OC% concentration is higher than another, it is indicative that this particular pepper spray is stronger and more effective.

This logic is simply wrong and we will explain why below.

This false assumption is exacerbated by the fact that many pepper spray manufacturers use this OC spray percentage as a key marketing tool to state that their pepper spray “is the hottest pepper spray in the world”. It doesn’t help matters that the OC spray percentage can be easily manipulated to make it appear that one pepper spray product is better than another.

We will dispel this myth by providing the following evidence:

All OC is Not Created Equal

There are hundreds, if not thousands of types of peppers and each plant specie has a different genetic background. As a result, there is wide variation between the strength of pepper resin across different species of peppers. Some types of peppers, such as habanero, have more pure pepper resins while others such as Tabasco, are less pure and have lower grade resins. Taking this example further, a formula using 3% OC with the more pure pepper resin of a Habanero pepper could have a capsicum concentration in the pepper component 10 times more potent than another pepper spray formula using 15% OC with the less pure pepper resin of a Tabasco pepper.

This would actually mean that the 15% OC formula that the consumer believes is the “hottest pepper spray in the world” actually has a lower concentration of capsicum in the pepper component of the spray, i.e. will be far less effective against attackers both in speed and potency.

The pepper spray manufacturer in this case essentially uses higher percentages of low-grade pepper resins to woo customers into believing that their pepper spray is superior, when the reverse is true. The truth is that these low-grade pepper resins contain fillers such as sugar, color and oil. The consumer can easily notice this by looking at the discharged formulas themselves – they are often very dirty looking and opaque versus clear in color for more pure resins. This higher percentage low-grade resin actually reduces the effectiveness of the defense spray in the form of overall potency and stopping power. An OC Spray Dealer should be able to tell you which of their sprays are more potent based on the SHU rating and quality of formulation.

Figure 2 – Examples of Pepper Spray Canisters

Measure True Pepper Spray Effectiveness by its SHU Rating

The more accurate way to rate the effectiveness of pepper spray is to determine its Scoville Heat Unit rating, or SHU. This widely recognized method for testing and measuring the “hotness” of a chili pepper is based on the amount of capsicum it contains. This heat rating has a direct relationship to the effectiveness of the pepper spray formula. The more capsaicin content the OC has, the hotter and more effective the defense spray will be and thus the higher SHU rating. Please refer to the Scoville Heat Unit chart in Figure 3 below for more detail regarding the SHU for individual peppers.

Figure 3 – Scoville Heat Unit Chart

It is interesting to note that in many cases, the pepper spray advertised as having 15% or more OC may have a very low SHU rating, indicating that the pepper resin used is low quality. A higher SHU rating indicates that more pure pepper resin was used as part of the pepper spray formula. As a result, a pepper spray which is deemed to have a 5,000,000 SHU is likely to cost more to the consumer because the more pure pepper resin is significantly more costly to the manufacturer than low-grade resin with impurities such as oil, sugar and colors.

In conclusion, while it may appear than that a 18% OC pepper spray may be the “hottest pepper spray in the world”, it is worth it to understand truly how effective the spray is – the best way being to determine its Scoville Heat Unit rating (or SHU). By understanding the pepper spray’s SHU rating, you will be able to get an excellent indicator of overall pepper spray effectiveness and be in a better position to buy the best pepper spray for your safety needs. Be sure and check the Pepper Spray Laws in your area if you have any concerns about the legality of carrying pepper sprays.