Bottomline: DEET and Permethrin are the only things that work on ticks. Both are available at Sam's, Target, Wal-Mart, etc., etc. I recommend treating clothing with permethrin, using deet on your skin if you are going to be in a tick friendly area (woods or tall grass). Skin-so-soft, cintronella, etc. do nothing against ticks.
Here's more information for those who would like to know more (from the web jambo scout list):
Both are the best repellents available today and are used by the US DoD and other government agencies. Yes, permethrin is a neuro-toxin, but only to simple insects (flies and mosquitoes) and arthropods (spiders and ticks). Permethrin is a protein-like insecticide that repels and kills biting and bloodsucking mosquitoes and ticks that can vector disease. Permethrin is not applied to skin because PERMETHRIN DOES NOT WORK ON SKIN. As a protein, your skin (the largest organ in your body) rapidly metabolizes permethrin to simple amino acids, CO2 and water, thus deactivating it. On clothing, and inanimate objects, a permethrin treatment will last for two weeks including weekly launderings. All toxicological work done with permethrin is clean up to and including using 42 cans of permethrin per day for 40 days and all injected subcutaneously (below the skin).
Our council's Jambo contingent will be using permethrin on all uniforms, and Controlled Release Deet on their skin, thanks to a kind donation from one of our local Scouters. BTW, Carbon 14 dated tests done on microencapsulated 20% Controlled Release Deet demonstrated a 90% reduction in deet absorption into the skin versus straight (nonencapsulated) 20% deet. Efficacy for the same product is for over 20 hours in a nice dry vanishing lotion. This is some pretty good science !! 3M Ultrathon is a 33% deet barrier cream, hard to find, expensive and very greasy !
All pesticides must have a "signal word" on their label. (Check any pesticides you may have in your home.) The signal word for permethrin is CAUTION and not WARNING. The lowest rating any pesticide can have is CAUTION. There is no restriction for permethrin use by age, other than "Keep out of reach of children." Children are typically 8 years and younger; therefore, there is no restriction for Boy Scout age /Jambo '01-bound youth to use permethrin. Permethrin is no more dangerous then using a knife if used safely by following instructions for use, or directions. A little common sense says, youth should be instructed in safe application, the same as we instruct the use of wood tools.
As of 1999, the US EPA R.E.D. has disallowed use of children/kid/child formulas. In other words, there is no such things as "specially formulated" for children. An insect repellent is a repellent and all have to be proven safe on humans, regardless of age. USEPA has also removed colorants, glitter and certain fragrances from repellents.
Always apply sunscreen to you skin first when your skin conditions are cool and dry and before you go out into the sun. After about twenty minutes, apply your insect repellent. Sunscreens work on and under the (five layers of epidermis) skin. Insect repellents work on and away from the skin.
Remember, a permethrin treatment lasts for two weeks and (one) weekly laundering. Repeat permethrin application after the second laundering. One treatment to clothing before Jambo will last throughout Jambo, so leave your empty permethrin cans at home for recycling.
Reference: From the Leader List for the 2001 National Scout Jamboree.