'Sprayable Energy' Spray-On Caffeine Promises To Energize Those Who 'Struggle With Caffeine Sensitivity'
Energy shots, energy drinks, coffee, caffeinated chewing gum, and caffeinated hot sauce are just some of the products that are part of the ever-growing energy market. They may be inventive, but when it comes down to their core function, it’s really all about getting you caffeinated. But, all of them have one shortfall: they don’t last long enough and you end up crashing. Now, one duo claims that their new product, Sprayable Energy, will keep you energized for hours, and it doesn’t come with any side effects.
Ben Yu, 21, an entrepreneur who left Harvard to become a Peter Thiel “20 Under 20” fellow, and his partner, Deven Soni, 33, a venture capitalist, developed the caffeine spray after realizing that caffeine and nicotine are both molecularly similar. They thought that if nicotine in patches could pass through skin, then caffeine probably could as well. They enlisted Yu’s father, who holds a Ph.D. in chemistry and had been studying medicinal applications through skin for 10 years.
Their final product comes in a sleek bottle. It sprays onto the neck or any other area that you might put perfume or cologne. However, it’s colorless and unscented. The ingredients in the bottle contain a derivative of the amino acid tyrosine as well as caffeine. Four sprays — two on each side of the neck — equals one dose, according to Business Insider.
“Coffee didn’t work for me,” Yu told Inc. magazine. “When I ingest it, it’s like a rollercoaster ride of energy.”
Ingested caffeine becomes metabolized almost immediately. It enters the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth, throat, and stomach. Within 45 minutes, 99 percent of the caffeine is absorbed through these membranes, according to EnergyFiend. It’s also broken down relatively quickly by the liver, before being used up by the body. This is why many caffeine rushes only last about two to three hours.
Although each dose — four sprays — contains less caffeine than a normal cup of coffee; the founders say that it’s enough enough to keep anyone energized for several hours. Spraying caffeine onto the skin allows it to “enter your system at a steady pace … giving you smooth, long-lasting energy,” Yu told Inc.
“Thus, a smaller amount of caffeine can have just the same effect as a very large amount of caffeine ingested through an energy drink or cup of coffee,” Yu and Soni's website says.
The patent for Sprayable Caffeine is still pending, and the product is also awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration. If you’re wondering how Sprayable Caffeine works, check out the video below. Yu and Soni's Indiegogo page, which has already surpassed the $15,000 goal, also has reviews about the product.