The problem I find with a lot of creams is that the smell is too strong, or it is packed full of artificial ingredients that lead to skin irritation and overall discomfort.
Of course, the flip-side is that most creams with a high percentage of natural ingredients are expensive as heck.
Then I found
Nancy Boy. I really like the understated yet defining scent of their Signature Shaving Cream. It isn’t too strong but definitely lets you know it’s there. It smells manly too, but without being overbearing/aggressive like a lot of creams. It’s like a crisp breath of mountain air with an undertone of peppermint; very clean and fresh but without being antiseptic.
The ingredients are all top-quality natural and I experience zero irritation. It moisturises, protects, and provides a good later despite that it is marketed as not being a lathering cream. It isn't quite as rich in lather as TOBS, but I've seen other (more expensive) "lathering" creams do worse.
The best part? The price. $18 for 6oz in a fully recyclable container. I mean, for this type of quality it’s unheard of. One of the tricks is that they have a $0 advertising budget; everything is word-of-mouth and they pass the savings to the customers. Their website is entertaining and fun to read. Oh, and don't forget to sign up for their website/newsletter for a 15% discount on all products every time you shop!
And if the name concerns you, well, I look at it like this; it takes a real confident macho man to pull off wearing pink, and a guy with equal gusto to use a cream from a company called Nancy Boy with a little blue pansy on the tub. :p (Which you can scratch off if you absolutely must.)
www.nancyboy.com/
PS: I also like TOBS.