Cotton candy, which is also widely known as candyfloss, is a sugar dish that actually dates back to 18th century Europe. Given how difficult it was to make back then, as it was made by hand, it was a definite luxury item, not the one commonly seen at fairs today. Cotton candy itself is basically spun sugar - almost entirely sugar - with some colourings and flavourings added. Pink and blue are probably the most common colours seen.
A machine for spinning cotton candy was invented in the late 19th century by a confectioner, John C. Wharton, and William Morrison - who was, of all things, a dentist! So a dentist made a pure sugar confection that is not exactly beneficial to the teeth. Although it was probably beneficial to the dentist trade.
The original machine was shown at the 1904 World's Fair, and the confection was called fairy floss - which it is still known by in Australia. The name cotton candy was actually patented in the 1920s by the inventor of another machine for spinning candy floss.
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