Does Pepper Spray Expire?
Pepper spray is a type of chemical agent designed to incapacitate human beings by attacking the eyes, throat, and other mucous membranes. It causes a burning sensation on contact with the skin or mucous membrane that can lead to temporary disorientation as well as damage to the eyes. The effects of this spray are usually temporary but can be permanently disabling in some cases. 

The spray typically consists of a combination of capsaicin and related compounds such as cayenne pepper extract, causing it to work through contact with the skin and more. Pepper spray is primarily used to subdue people but can be used to assist in other types of law enforcement or defense. 

People often use this spray as an effective means of self-defense against attackers, although it is not considered an appropriate weapon for this purpose. This spray must first be applied to the skin to cause any effect and is difficult to apply if there is a significant amount of clothing involved.

Active Ingredient in Pepper Spray

Capsicum is the active ingredient in this spray. The exact strength of a given batch of the spray is difficult to ascertain but generally ranges between 10 and 15% (10,000 and 15,000 SHU) capsaicin and related capsaicinoids. 

However, most brands are significantly lower than this figure. These sprays available for purchase typically have a mixture of oleoresin capsicum (OC), CS gas, and/or related nonivamide-based "non lethal" agents (typically 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile or CN).

Pepper Spray

When Was Pepper Spray Introduced?

The spray has been used by various law enforcement agencies mainly as a tool to subdue unruly individuals, but it has been called "the most versatile law-enforcement tool ever," because it can be used as an OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray or fogger.

Pepper spray was introduced in 1968 as a key ingredient to riot control agents by Dr. Henry D. McGhee of the Police Chemical Corporation when he took his idea to the American Chemical Society meeting in Detroit.  In Britain, the police department has been using this spray since the mid-1950s. 

The first station to use it was the Borough of Ealing. In the United States, there is no evidence that pepper spray was used at all by law enforcement officers before 1968. These sprays are used by British police today against demonstrators as well as against criminals who have attacked or injured members of the public. 

In Britain, an incapacitant developed by the Royal Air Force was superseded by PAVA spray after its failure during the Iranian Embassy Siege in London in 1980. The Metropolitan Police Service began using PAVA spray in October 2004.

Various Forms and Uses of Pepper Spray

Pepper spray comes in various forms, including a can the size of a roll of toilet paper that only holds a few grams of spray, spray bottles similar to those used for insect repellent, canisters that have pump-action engines for more powerful sprays, and aerosol sprays.

The sprays used in this way are generally contained in an opaque plastic canister with a flip-top lid and a pin for use as a safety measure. Pepper spraying is heavily regulated under the Firearms Act (1968) and other laws. The sprays are not classified as firearms, as they are defined as less than 0.5 grams of major capsaicinoids (a definition also used by North America). 

While most common types of spray are made from capsaicin mixed with an alcohol base sprayed into the face or eyes of people who might attack law enforcement officers when confronted with them, other forms of this spray can also be used. 

Also Read: Does Pepper Spray Work on Animals?


It is widely used by law enforcement officers throughout the world today and has been classified as a chemical irritant, an incapacitating agent, and an offensive weapon by treaties between nations that support international treaties on chemical weapons. 

Common Effects of Pepper Spray

Pepper spray is a potent chemical irritant. The effects of pepper spraying depend on the strength and amount of the spray and its proximity to the individual. Inhaling this spray can cause tearing, dizziness, coughing, severe breathing difficulties, temporary blindness for some individuals, chest pain, and a burning sensation in the eyes. This spray also has an effect on your gag reflex which may cause vomiting. 

Furthermore, exposure to this spray can lead to chemical burns around the eyes and skin that remain after treatment is completed. Many times people will use these sprays as self defense weapons against a threatening perpetrator in an attempt to bring them into compliance or incapacitate them altogether by temporarily blinding them or injuring their respiratory system. 

Also Read: Pros and Cons of Pepper Spray


Although the spray can be used to defend against an attacker in your home, sprays may not stop an attacker who is already inside the house. If the spray is fired directly at the perpetrator and it misses, it still leaves you exposed. It may also backfire if sprayed at high concentrations on those who are sensitive to sprays or it may cause the attacker to become enraged and attack you or someone else in your household.

In general, peppers contain capsaicin that causes pain or burning sensations when it comes into contact with eyes, skin or mucous membranes. Capsaicin can also cause a feeling of fear and panic in some individuals when pepper spray is introduced into their environment.

Expiry of Pepper Spray

Pepper spray expires, unfortunately. Over time, it will lose its effectiveness, but this is typically around two years. This means that if you buy your favorite canister of spray today, you should use it in the next year or so to maximize its strength and effectiveness. 

Pepper Spray

You might want to think about getting a new one soon if you have plans for a longer trip or just need some extra protection on the daily. This spray is often used as an effective self-defense tool, but it can lose its effectiveness over time. There is a possibility that this spray will stop an attacker, but what if it fails to do so?

If you use spray and it no longer works, what do you do? And if a police officer mistakes your spray as a fake or phony weapon, how can you get it back? 

Luckily, your spray has an expiration date. Check the expiration dates on your spray containers to learn how long it is good. If your spray is no longer effective, you need to ask the owner for an empty canister or get the police to check the spray for you. 

This spray comes in cans that contain three ounces of spray. If a can is completely empty, you will be able to put in another one and continue using your spray. If a canister is empty, it will probably have expired and it will not work against an attacker. To determine if your canisters are expired or not, simply use them in a situation where they would normally have worked in the past.

How to Check Expiry of Spray?

Pepper spray is an important self-defense tool for women, who live in a world that does not always offer them the same level of protection as it does to men. But how do you know when your spray expires?

It's actually very easy to tell whether or not your spray is expired.  Some will have an expiration date stamped on the side, while others will come with an "Expiration" sticker by the nozzle. 

If these signs are unclear, there are two ways to find out if your canister has gone bad: feel the canister and smell it! If it feels warm or has a strange smell, it's time for new butt-kicking gear. But if it feels cool and dry, and smells fresh, it's ready for action!

Pepper Spray

How to Use Pepper Spray for Defense?

There are many ways to protect yourself without going out of your way to buy additional specialized equipment such as pepper spray when you run into an enemy or other situation where self-defense is necessary.

Using this spray instead of other more traditional methods is also a great idea because it can be more easily carried and used without creating any mess. 

That way, even if you do need to use your spray for self-defense, it will not litter the ground with traces of oil or spray that can be harmful to others or cause difficulties for yourself should you get caught in the situation where you were attacked.

Also Read: Stun Gun VS Pepper Spray