Sticky fingers. Spinning sugar. That magical pink cloud on a stick…
We all know cotton candy is the superstar of fairs and carnivals.
But have you ever wondered: who came up with the idea to spin sugar into a puff of sugary air?
Get ready — the story behind the cotton candy machine is way cooler than you think.

Wait… A Dentist Helped Invent Cotton Candy?!

Yep. This part is 100% true.

Back in 1897, a dentist named William Morrison and a candy maker named John C. Wharton teamed up in the U.S. to create a machine that spun melted sugar through tiny holes using air. When the sugar cooled, it turned into fluffy, web-like threads — just like a spiderweb made of candy!

They called it “Fairy Floss.”
(And honestly, that’s kind of the perfect name.)

They introduced it to the world at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, and guess what?
They sold over 68,000 boxes in just one event!

How Does a Cotton Candy Machine Work?

In simple terms: it melts sugar, spins it super fast, and then lets the sugar threads fly into the air where they cool and collect on a cone.

It’s like magic — but with science!

Today’s machines are faster, safer, and come in neon colors… but the sweet spinny science is still the same.

DID YOU KNOW? Fun Facts About Cotton Candy

• In the U.K., cotton candy is called candy floss, and in Australia, it’s still called fairy floss!

• Cotton candy is 98% air — so it looks big but melts in your mouth.

• The average cotton candy cone has less sugar than a can of soda.

• Cotton candy has been to outer space — kind of! Astronauts use similar spinning tech to make certain materials in zero gravity.

DEEP DIVE: Why Doesn’t It Melt in the Air Instantly?

Great question, sugar scientist.

Cotton candy melts super fast when it hits moisture — like your tongue, or humid air. But as long as it stays dry, it can float and spin and twirl for ages. That’s why cotton candy is best on sunny fair days, not rainy ones!

Fun tip: If you ever make it at home, make sure to keep it dry or store it in an airtight container — or it’ll collapse like a sad sugar ghost.

QUIZ TIME: Are You a Cotton Candy Connoisseur?

Let’s test your sweet smarts!

1. Who helped invent the cotton candy machine?
A. A doctor and a baker
B. A dentist and a candy maker
C. Two kids at a fair

2. What was cotton candy originally called?
A. Sugar cloud
B. Candy rope
C. Fairy floss

3. Where was cotton candy first introduced to the public?
A. Disneyland
B. The 1904 World’s Fair
C. Times Square

4. What makes cotton candy so fluffy?
A. Magic powder
B. Whipped cream
C. Spun sugar and air

5. True or False: Cotton candy melts in your mouth because it’s mostly air.

👉 Loved this sticky-sweet adventure?
Find more weird inventions, delicious surprises, and tasty trivia in our QUIETLY CLEVER Trivia Book of History
From flying pancakes to exploding popcorn, it’s perfect for clever kids with curious taste buds.