Essentially there is no difference between a stain and a dye, they are both coloured liquids that don't offer a sheen or protection, they simply colour the wood. Our wood dyes are very concentrated and are usually available in primary and secondary colours. Sometimes a product may have the word "stain" in its title even though it is a protective coating also. However, we believe that a wood stain should simply stain the wood and not do anything else because a better result will be achieved if clear coats are applied on top of a stain.