Nonivamide, also called pelargonic acid vanillylamide or PAVA, is an organic compound and a capsaicinoid.

Nonivamide is used as a food additive to add pungency to seasonings, flavorings, and spice blends.

[4] Nonivamide is used (under the name PAVA) as the payload in "less-lethal munitions" such as the FN Herstal's FN 303 projectiles[5] or as the active ingredient in most pepper sprays,[3] which may be used as a chemical weapon.

[6] As a chemical irritant, pepper sprays have been used both as a riot control munition and also a weapon to disperse peaceful demonstrators; they have also been used in other contexts, such as military or police training exercises.

[6] While irritants commonly cause only "transient lacrimation, blepharospasm, superficial pain, and disorientation," their use and misuse also presents serious risks of more severe injury and disability.