at Skilled 10 you can use 2x Blood(instead of 5) and 1x Bloody Tree Knot(instead of 2)

Pig Blood also works for this recipe

Skilled 1
Used:
1 Clear Liquid Reagent
2 Sheep's Blood
1 Bloody Tree Knot
1 Powder of Flame
~150 Tries w/ no fails
*Had a Blue Sturdy Alchemy Stone activated

I had just gotten the quest and in the quests description it told me to use the exact amount,
5 x Deer Blood
2 x Powder of Flame
1 x Clear Liquid Reagent
2 x Bloody tree Knot

What i found interesting though that in the quests description it said i need to be same or over...
Gathering Skilled 5
Alchemy Apprentice 1

I dont know what gathering has to do with it, but im only repeating what the quest said, i should of taken a screenshot of it.

So i guess if you have high gathering and alchemy you can get keep lowering the quantities i guess.