All I can say is my sister has a chimenea and a sun room. In the winter the Chimenea comes into the sun room and it is a fun "fire place" with candles burning in it.

What kind of wildfire danger do you have in your area. If none then either or would work. But if you do the more enclosed style the better so embers/sparks don't cause you a problem. I have the open barrel type and like it but my one area of concern is that I do live in a fire prone area and we have to stay with our fires(When they are allowed even) until it's out cold. With a metal or pottery type you can not use water to extinguish. It will crack or warp it. I want to build an in ground fire pit so I can extinguish it when I want to.
So my advice is if you live in a wildfire prone area contact your local fire protection agency and get their opinion, they often times have requirements you have to meet in the first place.

Thanks, arcy and Echoes.

My Aunt loved her clay chimemea. unfortunately, unknown to her, her cats used the ash as a litter box. It absorbed into the clay and she never could get the stench out. Whew! One plus of aluminum if you have cats...:O)

Black socks, Did your aunt try baking soda?
That usually works for smells. It might take several boxes for a clay chimenea.

Not sure if she tried baking soda. The problem seemed to be the odor release anytime the fire was lit again. It was a year or so ago and she is several states away...