Pepper Spray is simply that, cayenne pepper in spray form. Pepper Spray comes in variety of dilution percentages generally between 2% to 17%. When seconds count it makes sense that the hotter the pepper spray the better. A one second blast of 17% pepper spray to the face of an assailant will induce immediate coughing, choking and nausea as well as dilating the eye capillaries resulting in diminished vision. Also pepper spray causes the mucous membranes to swell resulting in difficulty in breathing and leaves an intense burning skin sensation. A one second blast of 17% pepper spray delivers you from harms way and can affect an attacker for up to 45 minutes without causing any permanent damage.