Yeah I’ve never gotten bit by a tick but I’ve heard it’s quite unpleasant. The bad part is if you’re not diligent after a hike in the woods, you might have gotten bit and not even known it.
So the Permethrin… My admittedly unscientific test was to sit on my back porch late at night (same area where I donated blood to the local mosquitos) for about a half an hour. It was hot and muggy.
Didn’t get a single bite. There were all kinds of little insects back there who’d land on me briefly and then fly away.