"To create pepper spray, the capsicum compound is extracted from peppers, combined with carrier liquids, and put into a pressurized canister that can be deployed.
The term pepper spray is often mistakenly used interchangeably with mace but they are two different things. » Capsicum is a natural compound found in peppers that acts as both an irritant and an inflammatory agent. » Tear gas is an engineered chemical that only acts as an irritant. In many cases, pepper spray has been shown to be far more effective than chemical-based sprays that do not produce the same inflammatory effect. This is particularly evident when being used against individuals who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol."