VERIFY: Can tea tree oil repel ticks?

A viewer said she's seen posts on Facebook claiming tea tree oil can repel ticks. Our Verify team talked to the experts.

[randyhahn]

I love how the media works. Question: Does a mixture of tea tree oil and water repell ticks?
Media answer: we checked with our "experts" they've never heard of it, and have no testing. They reccomend a chemical that melts plastic (specifically for your kids). So because we can't answer the question we're just going to say "No." There consider it "fact checked". It's literally what they just said.

[maddog]

The title asks the question "Can tea tree oil repel ticks"? Asking an 'expert' who says DEET is recommended and is safe, and stating that there are two other (more natural?) options endorsed by the EPA does not answer the question. Where is the test they used to verify tea tree oil is not effective at repelling ticks?

[artadams]

I don't care if it's recomended, it works and that's all that matters to me. The video makes mention of 2 (more natural) substances and then says one is synthesized SMH....

[rickbo]

''deet is safe" says the EPA while it's being discouraged in the EU...

[therightside]

You don't know who to believe any more until you try it for yourself. I am investigating this for myself to see if Tea tree oil would work because it has so many good properties to it.

[NvrMre]

Honestly, I’ve been washing myself with Tea Tree oil soap. Just did a 3 hour hike. I came back with a lot of ticks on me but non of them latched on. It’s not going to keep them off of you, but it will keep them from biting.

[sherenemcfarlane]

I tried it on my cat, and he scratched it off, by himself.
I couldn't remove it, so I put a few drops of tea tree oil directly on that tick, it seems to agitate it.

[abcdfg]

we are glad we no longer takes midia recomendations!

[trumanburbank]

A true "expert" would have said, "I don't know - let's try it and see what happens."

[davepetitpas]

why dont u let the people decide for themselves aye sounds good aye ? just like u do aye huh sound good ?

[abcdfg]

its may kill the poor ticks and its soo sad :(