Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent
- Safe to use on children
- Odorless
- Not sticky
- Not long-lasting
- Must be washed off
- Can't be applied more than three times daily
Bottom Line
Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent uses picaridin, a popular DEET alternative that's safe for babies and children. It's odorless and non-sticky, but Cutter isn't long-lasting and can only be applied up to three times a day. For a long-lasting DEET-free repellent try our best reviewed natural repellent pick, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent (Est. $9 for 4 oz.) .
Performance
An effective and popular DEET alternative. Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent has a seven percent concentration of picaridin, a synthetic ingredient that is said to be comparable to a low-concentration DEET mosquito repellent in effectiveness. Picaridin is a popular alternative to DEET in Europe and works against biting flies, mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks and fleas.
Reviews say that Cutter Advanced protects against mosquitoes for up to 2.5 hours and may be applied up to three times a day. The product can be used on children as young as 2 months. It is also included in a rather informal and dated test by Slate.com, but was found to be ineffective against gnats and "mosquitoes flocked back after a mere 90 minutes."
Feel and Smell
Odorless and easy to apply. Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent is the top choice of About.com's guide to walking, primarily because it's odorless. It can be applied up to three times a day, but that still falls short for an all-day excursion outdoors. It is non-sticky once applied, but should be washed off the skin after returning indoors. Unlike DEET, which is a solvent, picaridin won't damage synthetic materials if you touch them with it still on your skin. Still, you're advised to wash it off after wearing.
| Cutter 53663 Advanced 6-Ounce 7% Picaridin Insect Repellent Pump Spray | |
(39 reviews) In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping |
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 |  2,141 store reviews | In Stock. Insect protection without the odor that repels mosquitoes, chiggers, biting flies, no-see-ums, gnats | $4.37 | See It |
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Our Sources
1. Slate.com
Andria Lisle and friends test nine mosquito repellents, including Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent, in the great outdoors. Testers say Cutter wasn't very effective and provided protection that barely lasted 90 minutes.
Review: Bug Off! Which Mosquito Repellents Work Best?, Andria Lisle, July 26, 2005
2. About.com
Walking guide Wendy Bumgardner recommends eight bug repellents. Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent is the top pick, but it's not clear what type of testing was performed, if any. She calls Cutter's repellent perfect and truly odorless.
Review: Top 8 Insect and Mosquito Repellents, Wendy Bumgardner, August 30, 2012
3. Amazon.com
Users have posted Insect repellent reviews for many of the products Amazon.com sells. About 30 users give Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent a solid overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. They say it's effective, but not for more than a couple of hours. Reviewers prefer it to the strong odor and greasiness of DEET insect repellents.
Review: Cutter Advanced 6-Ounce 7-Percent Picaridin Insect Repellent Pump Spray, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of June 2013
4. Parents.com
Parents.com endorses Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent for its non-sticky formula that's safe for kids, but the write-up is short and Parents.com does not appear to test Cutter Advanced or any of the other products. Bite Blocker's herbal repellent, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent and others are also recommended.
Review: Ultimate Guide to Bug Repellent for Kids, Andrea Cooley, Not dated
5. Drugstore.com
Drugstore.com publishes insect repellent reviews submitted by users. Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent receives an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars from over a dozen users. It receives mixed reviews on effectiveness, but owners say it doesn't feel greasy and praise the lack of odor.
Review: Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent, Contributors to Drugstore.com, As of June 2013
Insect Repellent Runners Up:
5 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…
5 picks including: Amazon.com, Drugstore.com…
5 picks including: Amazon.com, Drugstore.com…
4 picks including: About.com, Journal of Medical Entomology…
3 picks including: Amazon.com, Allure…
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