While curry itself is a sauce, I thought curry powder is considered a spice mix. "Cooks who can usually name every spice in a restaurant dish can’t smell curry

While curry itself is a sauce, I thought curry powder is considered a spice mix. "Cooks who can usually name every spice in a restaurant dish can’t smell curry or garlic" would presumably be referring to the spices that make up curry (as a spice mix), and not necessarily calling it a specific or singular spice.