Christopher Sheldrake is a British master perfumer who has played a significant role in the development of modern niche perfumery. Born in the United Kingdom, he developed a strong interest in art, culture, and history at an early age. After studying art history, he traveled extensively through Asia and the Middle East, experiences that would later greatly influence his rich, layered fragrance compositions. In the 1980s, Sheldrake settled in Paris, where he began his career at Quest and later worked for Shiseido.

His name became globally renowned through his long-standing collaboration with Serge Lutens, which began in 1992. Together, they created some of the most influential niche fragrances of recent decades, including Ambre Sultan, Chergui, Féminité du Bois, and Tubéreuse Criminelle. Sheldrake was known for his technical precision and his ability to harmoniously bring together unexpected contrasts between dark resins, spices, flowers, and wood notes. The collaboration with Lutens helped foster the emergence of artistic niche perfumery as we know it today.

Sheldrake later also worked as an in-house perfumer for Chanel, where he was involved in various exclusive and modern interpretations within the perfume house.