| If you were to look through a self-defense | | | | Jalapeno pepper, it is 10% of the 2500-8000 |
| catalog or website for a pepper spray that would | | | | SHU's of a Jalapeno pepper. But if it is a 10% |
| be right for you, you would be bombarded by | | | | concentration of a Habanero hot pepper, the heat |
| several brands, spray types, sizes, and | | | | units for that are 100,000 to 350,000 so obviously |
| percentages. What is meant by 1% or 10%? Is it | | | | the latter would be the more potent. Also, it is |
| better to have a higher percentage pepper | | | | then obvious that a 1% concentration of a |
| concentration? Not necessarily. | | | | Habanero hot pepper would be more potent than |
| There are 3 factors involved in the effectiveness | | | | a 10 % concentration of a Jalapeno pepper spray. |
| of a pepper defense spray: | | | | Pure Oleoresin Capsicum has a heat rating of |
| 1. The heat rating of the Oleoresin Capsicum, | | | | about 15 million. In spray formulations, OC from |
| which is the natural chemical used in civilian | | | | the peppers is processed until it achieves a heat |
| self-defense sprays, derived from various hot | | | | rating of approximately 2 million SHU's. Normally, |
| pepper plants. | | | | then, if a pepper spray is rated as 10%, it is a |
| 2. The type of carrier agent, such as alcohol, | | | | derivative of 2 million Scoville Heat Units, which is |
| ketone or other solvents and oils that hold and | | | | powerful enough to disable an attacker by causing |
| disperse the OC from its canister. | | | | pain, swelling the eyes shut and making breathing |
| 3. The spray density. The smaller the droplet size, | | | | very difficult. |
| the more effective the spray is because it will be | | | | The strongest pepper spray available to citizens is |
| inhaled quicker and more completely. | | | | the 18% Wildfire, which is an 18% pepper |
| I will only focus on the heat rating in this article. | | | | concentration derived from 3 million SHU's and is |
| What exactly does it mean when the picture says | | | | extremely effective in immediately permeating |
| Wildfire 18% Pepper Spray is hot, hot, hot? | | | | the pores of the skin, closing the eyes, and |
| The heat rating of pepper sprays is measured in | | | | inhibiting the breathing of the assailant. |
| Scoville Heat Units, or SHU's. There are many | | | | Percentages of OC in pepper sprays is important, |
| different types of peppers from the mild bell | | | | but it is only one factor in considering which |
| peppers to the extremely hot habaneros. The | | | | defense spray to purchase. Other factors to |
| way these are measured to produce the SHU of | | | | consider include size, how many sprays per |
| each pepper is by taking an alcohol extract of the | | | | canister, whether to buy a stream, fog, or cone |
| oil from a pepper and diluting it in a sugar/water | | | | shaped spray pattern and whether or not you |
| solution until the heat is undetectable. | | | | want it to be discreet, disguised as a lipstick |
| Bell peppers have a rating of zero because even | | | | holder or even a finger ring. |
| undiluted they are not hot. However, hot chilis | | | | So, do a little research and find the right pepper |
| such as habaneros have to be diluted up to | | | | spray for you. Don't take too long, though. You |
| 200,000 times before the heat is undetectable, so | | | | never know when you might need it out there on |
| they have a rating of 200,000. | | | | the mean streets of your city, although hopefully |
| So when a defense spray says it has a | | | | you'll never need it. Do check into the laws |
| percentage of 10%, you would need to ask "10% | | | | regarding pepper sprays in your city and state |
| of what?". If it is a 10% concentration of a | | | | before purchasing any. |