No smells for me. I just put a few coats of Minwax "clear" satin poly on the outside. They even warn you that it don't stay clear for long. You get a little yellow. Which is cool, I know it's gonna go down a couple shades. Also why I don't like stain with it. Kinda unpredictable.
It does bring out the "figure". Which is really why I like it. That wonderful 3D shimmer from deep in the wood. Yeah, pics can never show the shimmer, but it is there in both Stereomour and Crack. Nice wood.
Never tried oil, guess I should.
You "oil" guys, does the wood have "figure"?