This hue is inspired by the glossy red coating of a classic candy apple. The color comes from caramelized sugar syrup tinted with red dye, creating a brilliant, mirror-like sheen that glows under fairground lights. The treat itself dates back to the early 1900s, when New Jersey confectioner William W. Kolb accidentally invented it while experimenting with red cinnamon candy for the holidays. The result was an instant hit—sweet, shiny, and just a little dangerous to bite. The color’s high-gloss finish has since become a favorite in everything from car paint to lipstick, symbolizing temptation wrapped in sugar.