The strong smell came from candlenut or kemiri. Already tried many variants of these package version of laksa Sarawak paste to me they all have no much difference with restaurants or shops style gravy version. Just differs between level of spiciness and the amount of belacan they added.
My mother from Klang she is the only one in our family who dislike laksa Sarawak she said she hates the smell of the spices in gravy.

Which I admitted really strong for those who aren't used to or fan of it. But yes like others said here no where in the world the one I ate has curry flavour or similar to curry laksa gravy any sort of that thing. Those who said it memang bodoh la haven't tasted the actual laksa Sarawak.