I make and actually sell coffee table boxes.
Used to be I would put 6-10 coats of lacquer hand rubbed between coats.
Now I simply keep a crock pot full of bees wax handy.
Sand the project out to at least 400 grit, 600 followed by power buffing is best.
Melt the wax and apply with a brush (I do all surfaces of my boxes - inside, bottom as well) then take a heat gun and try to melt as much wax into the wood as possible.
Now, with the heat gun and a credit card work the wax off.
Finally with the heat gun and 0000 steel wool get it all off and buff.
That it!
The finish is soft and lustrous and even nice to touch.
For humidors the process is done prior to inserting Spanish cedar lining. One no longer worries about keeping water in a wooden box.