If eaten whole, bay leaves are pungent and have a sharp, bitter taste. As with many spices and flavourings, the fragrance of the bay leaf is more noticeable than its taste. When the leaf is dried, the aroma is herbal, slightly floral, and somewhat similar to oregano and thyme.

Do bay leaves have a smell?

Why Recipes Call For Bay Leaves Even Though They Have No Taste Or Smell.

Do bay leaves smell like eucalyptus?

Aside from that, the aromatic properties of bay leaf are quite similar to eucalyptus.