FAQ's

Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is the extracted oil of the dried, ripe fruit of capsicum peppers. It contains a complex mixture of capsaicinoids — the compounds responsible for the heat and the irritant effect pepper spray relies on.

Oleoresin Capsicum, or OC, is the active ingredient in pepper spray. It's a natural extract from capsicum peppers, and it's what makes pepper spray an inflammatory agent rather than a simple irritant — it causes involuntary swelling of the eyes and airways on contact, which is why it works reliably even against someone who's impaired or highly motivated to keep coming.

Strength in pepper spray comes down to the concentration of major capsaicinoids (MC) — not the "OC percentage" some labels advertise, which can include diluted carrier oils. Zarc's own formulation research (U.S. Patent 7,270,802) found that a 0.90% MC concentration doesn't achieve full effect in every subject, while 1.45% MC produces the intended effect across the population without excessive recovery time or added hazard — which is why VEXOR® is formulated at that level, among the highest MC concentrations available for civilian and duty use, where allowed by law.

Zarc developed CAP-STUN® in the early 1980s as a less-lethal deterrent for law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. adopted it soon after. VEXOR® is Zarc's current professional-grade line, used by law enforcement agencies worldwide today.

Yes. Military police use pepper spray, and Zarc holds several military National Stock Numbers (NSNs).

CAP-STUN® Z-305 was one of the original pepper sprays used by the military. Today's military and law enforcement standard is Zarc's VEXOR® Professional line, available for civilian purchase.

Pepper spray affects three physiological targets:

1. Eyes — immediate, involuntary closing of the eyelids
2. Respiratory system — uncontrollable coughing
3. Skin — an intense burning sensation

No. Effects are immediate but temporary, and typically resolve within about 45 minutes.

Flush the face and eyes with cool water. Try to separate the eyelids with your fingers — do not rub the eyes. Flushing for about 10 minutes should relieve inflammation. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth, groin, or other sensitive areas until you've washed your hands thoroughly. Contact lens wearers should remove lenses before flushing; soft lenses should be discarded afterward, and hard lenses or glasses can be cleaned with soap and water.

Reaction can vary by individual, but pepper spray's effect is an involuntary inflammatory response rather than a simple pain reaction — that's why it remains effective against most people regardless of pain tolerance, intoxication, or motivation.

Yes — if a dog is behaving aggressively and you need to defend yourself, pepper spray is an option. Effects on dogs are similar to the effects on people, and typically subside within about 45 minutes. If possible, help the owner flush the animal's eyes with water afterward.

Ultimately, leaving the scene or avoiding conflict altogether is the best way to stay safe. When you're confronted by a threat you can't avoid, pepper spray from Zarc is the most effective less-lethal way to defend yourself and stop an attack.

Pepper spray is meant for situations where you feel genuinely physically threatened and can't safely remove yourself — not as a response to an argument, an insult, or a situation with no real physical threat involved. Reasonable everyday scenarios include:

• Someone is behaving aggressively toward you and isn't backing off despite an attempt to leave or de-escalate
• You're approached in a way that makes you fear for your physical safety — in a parking lot, on a walk, or answering your door
• You need to create distance and time to get away or get help — not to end or "win" a confrontation

• The situation is a disagreement or argument with no physical threat involved
• The person has already backed off, left, or stopped whatever made you feel threatened
• You're in a crowded or enclosed space where deploying spray could affect bystanders as much as the person you're aiming at — consider your surroundings, not just the threat in front of you

For daily carry, compact options like the VEXOR® Key Guard clip easily to a keychain or bag while staying powerful and easy to access. For situations where you want a canister staged and ready — a dorm room, an apartment, or a vehicle — the Pocket Guard Full Axis is built for fast access and fires reliably from any angle, including upside down (see What is Full Axis? below).

Full Axis (also called 360° Full Axis) is a spray-delivery design that lets a canister fire correctly no matter what angle it's held at — right-side up, upside down, or anywhere in between. That matters in an actual defensive situation, where you don't have time to check your grip before you need the unit to work. Every Zarc Pocket Guard unit uses Full Axis technology.

Yes. Zarc canisters use flip-top or twist-top safety features specifically to prevent accidental discharge while carried in a pocket or purse.

Zarc pepper sprays carry a four-year shelf life from the date of manufacture. Replace canisters with fresh units before they expire to ensure full effectiveness.

Store canisters at room temperature. Don't store near heat or an open flame, and don't leave a canister in a vehicle where interior temperatures can exceed 120°F (50°C). Prolonged exposure below 32°F (0°C) may slow discharge.

Zarc offers VEXOR® Training Sprays so you can build accuracy and muscle memory with an inert unit before ever needing the real thing.

• Cone/fog — atomized patterns that don't require precise aim, since coverage is wide. More susceptible to wind, and finer particles can affect the respiratory system or drift to bystanders/indoor ventilation.
• Foam — similar profile to cone/fog with less respiratory impact, making it more suitable indoors. Messier due to its soapy texture and can contaminate clothing or surfaces.
• Gel — a thicker, viscous formulation that travels as a cohesive stream rather than dispersing into the air. That means less product airborne, which lowers the risk of wind-back onto the user and reduces the chance of affecting bystanders in close quarters — a real consideration indoors, in a vehicle, or in a crowded space.
• Stream — narrow, doesn't atomize, and is less affected by wind — usable indoors. Requires more precise aim, and a subject can block a narrow stream more easily than a wide pattern.

Pepper spray is legal to carry in most states, though restrictions on concentration, size, and carry context vary. Laws also change over time, so treat state-specific detail as something to verify at the time of purchase, not a fixed fact.

See current legal status by state →

VEXOR® is Zarc's brand of non-flammable, Taser-safe pepper spray, introduced in 2002, formulated in both water- and oil-based solutions.

CAP-STUN® is Zarc's original alcohol-based formulation, introduced in 1982, and has been a long-standing tool for law enforcement and military use.

Mace is the brand name of an early aerosol self-defense spray, invented by Alan Lee Litman in the 1960s. The original product packaged phenacyl chloride (CN) tear gas in a small aerosol can — a different chemical agent and mechanism than the OC-based pepper spray Zarc manufactures today. (Source: Wikipedia, "Mace (spray)")