Introduction: Studies have shown that half of the mothers complain labor pain. Because of the side effects of pharmacological pain killers on mothers and neonates, those medications are used lower than non-pharmacological methods in these days. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lavender essence inhalation on labor pain in nulliparous women.

Materials & methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 120 pregnant women were selected by convenient sampling method and divided to case and control groups equally. The severity of the basal pain was measured at the beginning of active phase (4-5 cm cervical dilation) based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).Then, the case group received 2 drops of Lavandula oil inhaled at three stages  ) 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 cm cervical dilation( and severity of the labor pain was measured before and after intervention. Analytical statistics such as t-test and χ2 were used.

Findings: The results showed that difference in the labor pain before and after intervention in two groups was significant (P=0). But there was no difference in  mean duration of the active phase and second stage of labor  between the two groups .

Discussion & Conclusions: The results indicated that lavender essence can reduce labor pain. Therefore, the results of this study can be used to make the process enjoyable and also reduce the cesarean section because of the fear of vaginal delivery. Besides, one can reduce the patients' need to sedative drugs and their side effects.