Abstract: The present invention is based on the fmding that bacterial Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) of bacterial strains belonging to the Bacillus genus have an insect repellent activity and can accordingly be used as insect repellents. In particular the VOCs released by blends of such Bacillus strains comprising at least one Bacillus aerius strain, showed a repellent activity against insects like Anopheles gambiae s. s. and Aedes aegypti. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide the use of VOCs of bacterial strains belonging to the Bacillus genus as insect repellents. It further provides the use of bacterial strains belonging to the Bacillus genus as insect repellents, in particular the use of Bacillus aerius strains as insect repellents. It also provides the use of blends of bacterial strains belonging to the Bacillus genus as insect repellents, in particular blends comprising at least one Bacillus aerius strain.