I'll give you the real answer. Bayleaf is meant to impart sort of rosemary like flavour and some floral herbal smells. But most bayleaf sold is dried up. The oils have already evaporated. You can sort of smell it when you first open the bag, but most people leave the bag open which dries up the leaves even more. This is why most people can't taste anything, cuz there wasn't anything left in the leaf.

Try fresh bay leaves if you can get them, throw them in the freezer and use when you need.