Disclosed is a method of repelling noxious insects comprising the step of exposing said noxious insects to a composition containing from 0.1 to 90 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one of 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-cycloalkanols represented by the following formulae (2), (7) and (8): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated, hydrocarbon radical having 1-8 carbon atoms.