A relative has an old cottage in northern Michigan that is paneled in white cedar. Although it is stained the wood still has a wonderful aroma after all these years (the cottage was probably built in the 20's). My wife now wants to recreate the paneling, and especially the scent, in a nearby cottage that we purchased a few years ago. She also wants it stained darker than the natural wood.

So... what should I use and what should I avoid in staining our imagined white cedar interior without losing the freshness of the scent? I can do the carpentry easily enough but don't have a lot of experience with finishing. I know enough to keep the paint stains away as well as the polyurethanes, I suppose. What are the other options? Any thoughts would be very helpful.