No slip. Not too "slick". Not too "rough". Just like in the fairy tale -- "just right". :)
Never noticed any particularly negative "smell" eminating from the pad either. (Just the standard "rubbery"-like scent, which, at least on mine, isn't at all overpowering and certainly not bad enough to warrant not purchasing the product.)
These pads don't seem to fade in color over time either. (Knock wood.) The attractive "raindrop" design is just as bold now as the day I bought it, which was quite some time ago.
I'd fully recommend an "Allsop" Mouse Pad. Get one...then invite your "mouse" to come over to your new "pad". It'll like its new home. :)
The surface provides exactly the right amount of friction. It's also a fairly thin mouspad (4mm), so even though one side of my keyboard sits on it, it doesn't throw it off balance.