Any scent that is unfamilar to the deer, is going to draw attention to yourself. In most case no scent is better than the wrong scent. Cedar chests or closets tend to leave a lasting odour on whatever is placed in them for long periods of time. So given that cedars are sparce in your area, I would refrain from storing gear in the cedar closet.

May I suggest you put your camo and gear in sealed rubbermaid containers. I have been doing this for years and it works great. I wash, dry my gear and then seal them until next year. If you want to add a cover scent, try putting earth, leaves, branches & other field materials from your area in the bottom of the container. Baking soda is good for neutralizing & absorbing odour as well, cheap and doesn' t take much. You can also buy scent waffers or other commericial products like scent lock bags, carbon products, etc to acheive the same results.