Considering the diseases carried by ticks (Lyme is not paranoia, it's serious stuff that can do horrible things to you, as happened to a former member of this forum), I'd want to see some scientific evidence that these alternatives work before relying on them. There's a big difference between anecdotes and data.

I don't use DEET for ticks, but rely on continuous clothing from the feet up (including low gaiters, easier to keep the creepies from getting inside pant legs than tucking pants into socks) to keep the ticks off. That being said, I use permethrin-sprayed clothing in the spring when the little critters are at their worst.