What is the best tick repellent for skin?

EPA-registered repellents with DEET (20–40%), picaridin (20%), IR3535 (20%) or oil of lemon eucalyptus (30%) are proven to repel ticks. Picaridin is odorless and won't damage gear.

What should I spray on my clothes for ticks?

Permethrin (0.5%) kills ticks on contact. Spray shoes, socks and pants and let them dry. Never apply it to skin, and keep cats away from wet treated items.

Do essential oils repel ticks?

Some do in lab tests, including clove, geranium, oregano, cedarwood and thyme, but protection is short and they aren't EPA-evaluated for effectiveness. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is the only plant-based repellent CDC recommends.

Is DEET safe for children?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says products with up to 30% DEET can be used on children older than 2 months. Apply it to your hands first, then to the child, avoiding hands, eyes and mouth.

Tick Repellent Guide: What Works on Skin, Clothes & Natural Oils

EPA-registered repellents compared

Look for an EPA registration number on the label. That number means the product was tested to show it works. Higher concentration means longer protection, not stronger protection.

Active ingredient	Use on	Tick-strength concentration	Lasts about	Children	Good to know
DEET	Skin, clothing	20–40%	2–8 hrs	Over 2 months; AAP says max 30% for kids	The longest-studied repellent. Can damage plastics, watch crystals and synthetic fabric
Picaridinalso called icaridin	Skin, clothing	20%	3–10 hrs	Over 2 months	Nearly odorless, not greasy, won't harm gear. Many people prefer it to DEET
IR3535	Skin	20%	4–6 hrs	Over 2 months	Often found in sunscreen-repellent combos
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) / PMD	Skin	30%	2–5 hrs	Not under 3 years	Plant-derived and EPA-registered. Not the same as lemon eucalyptus essential oil, which isn't registered
2-Undecanone	Skin	7.75%	Up to 2 hrs for ticks	Check label	Originally from wild tomato plants. Limited published data
Nootkatone	Skin, clothing	Per label	Several hrs	Check label	Grapefruit and Alaska cedar compound developed by CDC; EPA-registered 2020. Repels and kills ticks. Few products on shelves so far
Permethrin	Clothing & gear only	0.5%	6 washes (DIY) · ~70 washes (factory)	Treated clothing is fine	Kills ticks on contact. The single best tool for hikers and yard work. Spray shoes, socks and pants; let dry. Never on skin. Toxic to cats while wet

Apply sunscreen first, then repellent. Avoid all-in-one products if you need to reapply sunscreen often.
Spray ankles, legs and waist: ticks start low. Don't apply under clothing or on cuts.
For kids, spray your own hands and rub it on. Skip hands, eyes and mouth.
Wash it off when you come inside.

Dress for it: light colors so ticks show, long pants tucked into socks, shirt tucked into pants.
Walk the middle of trails and avoid brushing against vegetation.
Pre-treated clothing (permethrin-bonded brands) is the easiest option for landscapers, hunters and outdoor kids.

Natural oils that repel ticks

Essential oils sold as repellents are exempt from EPA registration because they're considered low risk. That means they were checked for safety, not for whether they work. Some do repel ticks in lab tests, but protection is usually short (often an hour or two) and they evaporate quickly. Use them for low-risk outings, not a hike in deer-tick country.

Relative tick repellency, lab ranking (2024 study)

Clove

Geranium

Oregano

Cedarwood

Thyme

Amyris

Patchouli

Citronella

Juniper berry

Peppermint

Cassia

Bar length shows rank order only, not measured protection time. Le Mauff et al., Parasites & Vectors, 2024.

Use oils safely

Always dilute in a carrier oil or buy a ready-made product. Undiluted oils can burn or sensitize skin.
Patch-test on your forearm first.
Reapply often, every 1–2 hours.
Clove, cassia, oregano, thyme and peppermint are strong skin irritants. Keep away from eyes and young children's faces.
Many oils (tea tree, clove, peppermint, citrus, pennyroyal) are toxic to cats and some to dogs. Never use on pets without a vet's okay.
Pregnant? Ask your doctor first.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)

EPA-registered · strongest plant option

The only plant-based skin repellent CDC recommends. Refined from the lemon-scented gum tree to concentrate PMD. 30% lasts up to several hours.

Geraniol / geranium

Minimum-risk exempt

From geranium, rose and citronella grass. A common base in commercial natural tick sprays.

Cedarwood

Minimum-risk exempt

Repels and can kill ticks. Popular as a yard and pet-bedding spray, and in clothing sprays.

Clove

Minimum-risk exempt

Ranked strongest in recent lab tests. Also the most irritating; always well diluted.

Rosemary

Minimum-risk exempt

Part of the rosemary-lemongrass-cedar-peppermint-thyme-geraniol blends CDC has listed as repelling blacklegged ticks.

Lemongrass

Minimum-risk exempt

Citrus-scented; shows repellency in blends. Can irritate sensitive skin.

Thyme

Minimum-risk exempt

Thymol content gives strong short-term repellency. Very irritating undiluted.

Peppermint

Minimum-risk exempt

Common in blends and pleasant to use, but weaker on its own in recent testing.

Citronella

Minimum-risk exempt

Better known for mosquitoes. Most products protect for 2 hours or less.

Oregano

Minimum-risk exempt

High carvacrol; strong lab repellency. Strong skin irritant.

Garlic oil

Minimum-risk exempt · yard use

Sold as a lawn and garden spray to repel blacklegged ticks. Eating garlic doesn't repel ticks.

Patchouli, amyris, juniper

Unregistered

Moderate repellency in lab studies. Useful as part of a blend.

TickPrevention.org is an educational resource and does not give medical advice. Follow CDC, EPA and university extension guidance, and see a clinician about any bite or symptoms.