Just a thought, there are two kinds of oil (petroleum), asphalt based, and paraffin based. There were all kinds of bitumen (asphalt seeps in ancient Iraq (Sumeria)and in ancient east coast of Saudi Arabia. They used to coat the hulls of reed boats with the stuff. They also used it to coat basketry to make it waterproof. We used to find it in arceological sites we excavated on the coast of Oman. I wonder if pine tar like I used to use on my wooden cross country skis might do just as well. You might find a can of that and give it a tryl. It sure as heck might smell nicer.
Curt