Mace is the
genericized trademark of
Chemical Mace, the
brand name of an early type of aerosol
self defense spray invented by Allan Lee Litman in 1965. 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, usable in almost any environment and strong enough (when sprayed in the face) to act as a credible deterrent and incapacitant. Its popularity led to the brand name being shortened to simply "Mace" for all defense sprays (regardless of the composition).