Does a silicone cutting board really work well? I tried a silicone cutting board, and I noticed two problems so far. 

First, it had a strong smell, it only disappeared after two weeks of use. Second, I noticed scratches after chopping on it. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of silicone boards when compared to other cutting board materials?
I would expect a silicone board to be quite keen on scratches as it's soft. The same applies for plastic ones.

I've found the best chopping boards are those made of wood. They are also safer. 
Some kind of woods, like bamboo, are natural antibacterial:


https://www.ncsu.edu/bioresources/BioRes_08/BioRes_08_4_6501_Xi_Qin_Antibacterial_Perform_Natural_Bamboo_Fiber_4310.pdf
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00405000.2011.614742#.Ve2BQBHBzRY