Mace is a nonlethal self-defense product that uses tear gas in the form of an aerosol spray that propels a lachrymatory agent mixed with a volatile solvent. Mace is legal in a few countries which include the United States.

The original mace formulation is made up of 1% CN gas in a solvent of 2-butanol, cyclohexene, propylene glycol and di propylene glycol methyl ether. Some formulations now include Oleoresin Capsicum which is the active ingredient in pepper spray. Today mace and pepper spray are used interchangeably when spayed irritates the eyes, skin, and lungs and make it difficult to breathe.

Mace was originally manufactured by the name “Chemical Mace” by Lake Erie Chemical (a former division of Smith & Wesson) in 1962. However, it is now a registered trademark of Mace Security International. Mace sold today by Mace Security International and other companies is actually pepper spray instead of tear gas.

See our Mace Sprays