I bought some lavender to have as a houseplant and it doesn't smell unless I crush the leaves in my hand. Why is this and is there anything I can do to make it give out its lovely scent?
I've never heard of lavender as a houseplant before, but I imagine the reason that you don't get the same wafts of scent is because you can't replicate the breezes and rain showers which tend to release the scent outdoors. Perhaps you should try putting it near an open window.
You could try removing the flower heads if it has flowered and placing them in an open dish somewhere warm such as a radiator or sunny window ledge. Or you could cheat by having an oil burner with some lavender oil in!