Personally, I think Tony may not be describing the scenario accurately. I think he is using terms not quite appropriately, as we understand them, though his intentions are obviously well meant.

That door, the sidelights and the sill are in bad shape, finish-wise. Someone mentioned mahogany. I can't tell if the wood is mahogany, Spanish Cedar or what.

It appears to me some finish is still on the woodwork, giving those areas the wet look, and Tony may be assuming these areas are stained areas. It appears the finish has been removed from some areas (no matter what removed it, if so) and these areas may appear, to Tony, to be raw wood or a different "stain" color. Other areas seem to have been silvered/grayed, from sun exposure.

If this above assessment is correct, then Tony needs to strip, sand, scrape or whatever it takes, to completely clean the doorway of all previous finish (and stain, if applicable), so that he has a completely raw wood doorway.. Once clean, he can wipe down some or all areas with mineral spirits to see how dark the woodwork will be, when a clear coat is applied, i.e., the wet look. We all know what this wet look is, but is Tony aware of this wet look effect? I'm suspecting not. This wet look may be the same "stained" look (darkness?) he is assuming is at the bottom of his door... and sill.

He needs to clean the door of all finish and whatever, then give it the mineral spirits wipe down, then assess if he wants a stain. I highly suspect he will not want a stain. I really think the wet look is the darkness he wants to achieve, that same darkness that is still on some areas of his door - way.

Sonny