I grew up with cedar closets and have a HUGE walk in one, in this house. I've never owned a cedar chest, but assume that the reaction of the oils ( in the wood ) would be the same in a chest, as it is in a closet. They are meant to house wools; clothing, blankets, and the like. Never ever store a fur coat, jaket, or any other item that has fur on it, in a cedar closet. Never ever store linen or cotten therein either.
BTW, lemon juice won't do the job; IRON OUT will and I have absolutely NO conection with the company that makes it, I just know what works. I also know how to get spilled candlewax out of a carpet or fabric covered furniture. :-)