I bought eight of them. The big surprise only came after I had painted a huge amount of wood: the 'protective coating' is just as water-soluble as the product in the can! The smallest drop of water, coffee, wine, leaves terrible, irreparable marks. The whole surface has to be repainted or even sanded, leaving the user wondering what protection this product offers.
I wasn't expecting anything liquid at all. After 2 coats, it's not as shiny as I was looking for either, but the finish is fine in the end and I think it depends on the wood too. I applied it with a cloth. It was very nice.