The PEZ dispenser originated in Vienna, Austria in 1927, when confectioner Eduard Haas III created PEZ as a compressed peppermint candy aimed at adults as a breath freshener and a smoking alternative. The name “PEZ” comes from the German word PfeffErminZ (peppermint), taking the first, middle, and last letters. The original dispensers, introduced in 1948, were simple, lighter-shaped containers reflecting the product’s anti-smoking marketing. In the 1950s, as PEZ expanded to the United States, the company transformed the dispenser by adding character heads to attract children, beginning with Santa Claus and later featuring popular figures from movies, cartoons, and comic strips. This shift turned the PEZ dispenser into both a candy holder and a collectible toy, helping it become a global pop culture icon.
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