Fashion designer Tory Burch lives by two tenets: empowerment and impact; in 2009, she launched the Tory Burch Foundation to support women entrepreneurs and has built a fashion empire by making a positive difference in the lives of others. This month, she is disrupting the fragrance world with Essence of Dreams, a collection of five scents designed to celebrate our innermost feelings and dreams of love, joy, freedom, magic, and peace.

There is something for everyone in this set. If you're in the mood for lavender and woody scents, try Electric Sky, designed to evoke freedom, or if you're in the mood for love, try Sublime Rose, a rose and black currant scent. There is also Divine Moon, which evokes peace with its honey and citrus notes. Says Burch, "I hope that everyone who wears the Essence of Dreams collection will be inspired to follow their dreams and envision a better world."

Here, the fashion designer talks about how fragrance is a tool of expression, shares how the latest fragrance makes her feel, and explains why having unity is so powerful and necessary when the world feels so divided.

Presenting a collection of Marie Claire fragrances is very different from presenting a single scent. Why did you decide to create five different fragrances?

Tory Burch: My tastes are very diverse, but I designed these fragrances the same way I design prêt-à-porter and accessories: they are tools for self-expression. Fragrances are very personal; we choose fragrances every day, depending on our mood, our clothes, and our mood.

Women don't wear just one more scent, they collect scents and alternate or mix them. The scents are long-lasting and unique, but not too strong, so they can be mixed and layered and experimented with.

MC: Tell us more about your scent inspiration.

TB: I am fascinated by how fragrances are tied to our memories and emotions. Several of our fragrances are inspired by loved ones (father, mother, husband).

We spent a lot of time thinking about the dreams and emotions each fragrance evokes. Divine Moon represents peace and transports me to my garden in Antigua, where I feel an overwhelming sense of tranquility; Sublime Rose represents love and is a modern take on the classic rose; and the fragrance of the Sacramento Roses is a modern interpretation of the classic rose.

Electric Sky is energetic and vibrant, expressing absolute freedom, while Mystic Geranium brings joy. There is an unexpected contrast of geranium leaf, bergamot, and rich cedarwood. Cosmic wood is optimistic and mysterious. The scent of vetiver immediately reminds me of my father, who always wore vetiver.

MC: What kind of woman or man would wear Essence of Dreams?

TB: Needless to say, this fragrance is genderless. Some of the men on our team love Mystic Geranium, which is very light and floral, and many women love the spicy Cosmic Wood.

MC: Do you have a favorite scent in the collection?

TB: My favorites change all the time. Today it is Cosmic Wood, but as the days go by I may add Divine Moon or Sublime Rose.

MC: What is your dream?

TB: My goal is to empower women and help them follow their dreams. I founded my company to design collections that inspire confidence and solve women's problems. The fact that we are still talking about equal rights for women is a clear indicator that things need to change.

I have always been an optimist, which I inherited from my parents. From an early age, I was taught that 'negativity is noise' and that 'anything is possible if you mean it. In a chaotic world, I want to share my optimism and encourage people to believe in the power of their dreams."

MC: How did you decide to use Imaan Hammam, Havana Rose, and Alexandra Mik as your muse for the campaign?

TB: From the beginning, we wanted to work with women who shared our values. Iman, Havana, and Alexandra are all amazing women who are involved in their communities and speak out on issues of humanity.

Our partner, Shiseido, also shares these values. Shiseido is committed to promoting the empowerment of women in Japan, and like my company, 80% of our employees are women.

MC: That is wonderful. What are your thoughts on the power of unity at a time when the world feels so divided?

TB: I share the dream of many people for unity and peace. The world is incredibly divided right now and what is missing is true connection. We need to unite, find common ground, and try to understand each other, even if we don't always agree. Deep down, I believe most of us want the same things. Equality, freedom, security, and the promise of a better tomorrow.