Red bay?

Here is a link that might be useful: Persea borbonia

I'm thinking sweet bay. If so it will have a lemon scent and the leaves will be silvery beneath.

Scratch the leaves, sniff and report back.

i picked one of the smaller bottom leaves and crushed it. it has a mild aroma. can't quite make it out though. kinda piney.

we have a small bag of dried bay leaves from the store. shape and texture seems similar. smell is different.

Description of species and it's (their) uses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Bay

houstontexas123 - the use of 'Bay' as a common name to cover various different plants is causing confusion here, I believe. The Bay leaves you bought for cooking are Laurus nobilis. The plant in the picture is not Laurus nobilis. I believe 'Sweet Bay' refers to Magnolia Virginiana. I'm sure bboy will correct that impression if necessary. Saltcedar is talking about various Perseas, also called 'Bay' in common parlance.