what is pepper spray made of

Pepper spray is a lacrimator, which means it stimulates the eyes to produce tears, and it typically comes in an aerosol or spray bottle. The active ingredient in pepper spray is oleoresin capsicum (OC), which is a natural oil found in many types of hot peppers, including cayenne peppers and other chili peppers. Capsaicin is the inflammatory compound that causes burning, pain, and tears when it comes into contact with a person’s eyes. To extract OC from peppers, capsicum is finely ground, and capsaicin is then extracted using an organic solvent such as ethanol. The solvent is then evaporated, and the remaining wax-like resin is the oleoresin capsaicin. An emulsifier such as propylene glycol is used to suspend OC in water, and the suspension is then pressurized to make an aerosol pepper spray. Other sprays may use an alcohol base such as isopropyl alcohol for a more penetrating product, but a risk of fire is present if combined with a taser. The capsaicin concentration of most pepper spray that law enforcement agents use is 5–10%, and a higher concentration results in longer-lasting effects.