Just collected some things to think about from chat:

Think about why i let you use either green or purple beetles for sacrifices.

a purple beetle IS more rare than a green beetle, after all. but they're of the same genus. interdasting.

Each recipe has a certain percentage chance of success, which can be enhanced by using certain items in various tiers. Users will be informed whether their recipe is unsuccessful or simply invalid. Ingredients will be returned to inventory upon failing a valid recipe

SMASH FAILED = recipe is correct

NOTHING HAPPENED = recipe doesnt exist

Grigger Maxxing If you have a guaranteed recipe eg: smashing a Pincushion and a Bombardier beetle to create a Sabertooth Longhorn - you do not NEED to sacrifice a purple beetle or use an upgraded hammer - you can use a green beetle and a tin hammer - it will just take you a lot of griggers and a lot of tin hammers to get the recipe. I believe this is not the case if you're trying to upgrade flowers (by smashing two of like rarity together) or trying to upgrade like beetles.