Board Thread:Skyrim/@comment-112.209.182.84-20160308085111/@comment-1188343-20160309132844

Well, I can't use homemade potions; my game freezes whenever I try, but bought (or found) potions will only help really help if you've got the smithing perk required for the item you're improving, and perhaps jewelry/clothing enchanted with "fortify smithing" worn as well when drinking the potion. Blacksmith potions with the words "philter" and "elixir" in the titles I find work best. Blacksmiths "potions" (+10% improvement) tend not to work as well, even at 100 Smithing. Note that the potions I refer to are the ones in the orange bottles (which can be bought or found), not homemade concoctions.