Mace_(spray)
Mace (spray)
Brand name of an aerosol self-defense spray
Mace is the brand name of an early type of aerosol self-defense spray invented by Alan Lee Litman in the 1960s. The first commercial product of its type, Litman's design packaged phenacyl chloride (CN) tear gas dissolved in hydrocarbon solvents into a small aerosol spray can,[1] usable in many environments and strong enough to act as a deterrent and incapacitant when sprayed in the face.[citation needed]
A generic trademark, its popularity led to the name "mace" being commonly used for other defense sprays regardless of their composition,[2][3] and for the term "maced" to be used to reference being pepper sprayed.[4] It is unrelated to the spice mace.