Depending on your zone, a wonderful alternative is serviceberry/amelanchier. I have several and they are gorgeous. I also planted a white blossomed star magnolia that I really like. That one smells good!

Thank you for the ideas! I haven't heard of these and will check them out.

Are you looking to stick with a fruit tree or do you just want an ornamental? for Ornamental, you could go with a Canadian red choke cherry. This will put out clusters of white flowers in the spring (around the same time as a pear) but then in the summer, it turns the leaves a dark burgundy color. The tiny fruits it puts out will be eaten by the birds, so you don't have to worry about a mess from dropped fruit.

If you want to stick with a fruit tree, then apples would probably be your best bet. Most are white flowers and smell much better than pears. They do have a slightly different shape to them. Or a plum tree could be a good replacement as well.

I share you dislike of the smell from a pear tree. Asia Pear trees don't have such a strong smell, you have to lean in and sniff the flower to get the scent from them. I hate how nurseries push the flowering pear trees as well, they are invasive and smell disgusting.

'Adirondack' crab apple.

could you narrow down 'midwest' a bit ....