I have just written a very long review on Cetol HLS - but now its called HLSe (I've been using it since the 1980s) so that review should be here.
This is a great wood finish for exterior use, it holds up on my west facing, full sun, rain, hail, windy deck high up on a hill. The deck looks beautiful after application of 2 coats. It is expensive so I paint it on by hand so the finish is perfect.
In the past 20 years Ive replaced lots of parts of the house but the deck shows no sign of deteriorating...it is very well surface protected.
I'll always use Cetol for timber it is worth the price and effort to apply carefully on each board.
Hardware and General Brookvale has a Cetol sale each year so I buy when there is a discount available.

This product worked for me on my DAR merbau steps and handrails. I first gave them a scrub with oxalic then left them to weather for 3 months. I'm now using Cetol on my 2-year old back fence; too early to give a review but the DAR hardwood (not sure what it is) is soaking up to HLS as it should do. If the oil isn't penetrating the timber then it isn't working. But my previous experience of treating timber together with the list of bad reviewers confirms that this is a tricky task. If Sikkens didn't work for you then I wonder if anything else would have?