These sticks contain different scents (orange, lemon, chocolate, etc.) and are used in a protocol to help individuals regain their sense of smell. The speaker mentions a randomized crossover placebo-controlled trial that showed the effectiveness of these smelling sticks in training and regaining the sense of smell.
"The podcast discusses using smelling sticks with specific markers (orange, lemon, chocolate) to regain a sense of smell after olfactory neuron damage. They mention that smell training with these sticks has shown to be effective in randomized controlled trials and help the olfactory neurons, which are replenished, become activated by smells again."