Process for reducing the benzene content of gasoline

In a process for alkylating benzene contained in a benzene-containing refinery gasoline stream, the benzene-containing refinery gasoline stream is contacted with an alkylating agent selected from one or more C2 to C5 olefins in at least one alkylation reaction zone under alkylation conditions to produce an alkylated effluent which has reduced benzene content as compared with said refinery gasoline stream and is essentially free of said alkylating agent. An aliquot of the alkylated effluent is then recycled to the one at least one alkylation reaction zone such that the molar ratio of alkylatable aromatic compounds to said alkylating agent in the combined refinery gasoline and recycle streams introduced into the at least one alkylation reaction zone is at least 1.0:1.