I have always worn safety straps,but prior to the last couple years I never used a climbing belt and never attached myself until I was on the platform of the tree stand.I have made a couple alterations to what I do now.Even though I am reasonably good condition I am not as flexible as I used to be and I also think about my family and the burden that would be placed on them if I had a disabling accident.So now I always wear a climbing belt and I have started as of last year to use prusic hitches.For about $10 bucks from Summit you can buy one,I have a bunch of them and I put the ropes in every stand I set.You are climbing the tree once with a climbing belt to set the rope up and every time there after you hook up to the hitch from the ground and slide it up as you go.attached the whole time.yes I am concerned about any human scent contact with the rope,I have washed them all thoroughly with scent free detergent and I wear gloves when I climb.I highly recommend them!You can make them yourself if you can find climbers rope inexpensively.Summits pricing for the amount of rope provided was very good,the hitch has to be of rope of a smaller diameter or it wont bite as you tug down on it.
Safety first!!