While both pepper spray and mace are self-defense products, they have important differences in their composition and effects. Pepper spray, classified as an inflammatory agent, swiftly incapacitates an assailant upon contact. It causes inflammation of the mucous membranes, resulting in intense pain, swelling, and temporary blindness. On the other hand, traditional chemical mace (CN), classified as an irritant and similar to tear gas, can cause temporary discomfort and irritation, including coughing and watery eyes, but it does not have the same immediate incapacitating effect as pepper spray. Therefore, the main distinction lies in their respective classifications and the speed and severity of their reactions when used for self-defense.