A sealer works good on wood. BUT, it does NOT replace stabilization. Even hardwood like Rosewood sometimes needs a decent sealer. BUT - it all depends on the type of sealer. I also use Tru-Oil as a finish on many woods. If pores need filling I'll use a coat (or 2) of CA glue, then remove the CA by sanding wood clean leaving only the pores filled with CA. Sometimes 1 coat works good, other times I've used a 2nd sanded good. The result is a nice Tru-Oil finish where the pores are not visible in the final finish.
