Permethrin is effective and is perhaps the only tested and proven to be effective tick repellent available on the general market. There may be others that have earned this honor but I've not heard of them...and I've looked (P.S. DEET is sometimes mentioned but I've not found it effective on ticks...but Permethrin DOES work, at least for me). Hereabouts, ticks are not just a nuisance. They can and DO carry deadly diseases (Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to name a few) that for many can create a lifetime of misery if infected. If your area has ticks and these maladies are present do yourself a favor and don't mess around with old wives tales remedies. Get what works, you'll be thankful later.
And by the way, as someone mentioned earlier the grade of Permethrin contained in farm store (livestock bath) products is NOT the same concentration or grade as 'people Permethrin' (such as Sawyers). Buy the safe stuff, read the directions carefully and apply it as directed. When it comes to diseased ticks and potentially dangerous insecticides, the best agent to apply liberally and as often as possible is common sense.