Process for preparing nitrobenzene, which comprises the steps a) nitration of benzene by means of nitric acid or mixtures of nitric acid and sulphuric acid and subsequent phase separation into an aqueous phase and crude nitrobenzene, b) washing of the crude nitrobenzene from step a) with aqueous washing liquid in at least three washing steps and in each case subsequent removal of the washing liquid, with a prepurified nitrobenzene containing nitrobenzene together with at least benzene and water being obtained after the washing liquid used in the last washing step has been separated off, c) distillation of benzene and water from the prepurified nitrobenzene from step b) in a distillation apparatus, giving purified nitrobenzene, characterized in that d) gas streams comprising benzene and nitrobenzene which are obtained in steps a) to c) are scrubbed in counter current in an absorption column by means of nitrobenzene which has a benzene content of < 50 ppm, based on the total mass of the nitrobenzene, and is distributed by means of a liquid distributor having 50 to 200 dropping points per square meter, giving (i) a liquid stream comprising benzene and nitrobenzene and (ii) offgas depleted in benzene; where the liquid stream comprising benzene and nitrobenzene which is obtained in step d) e) is distilled to isolate a mixture of benzene and nitrobenzene, with this distillation being operated so that organic low boilers, namely compounds and azeotropically boiling mixtures of compounds whose boiling points are below that of benzene at atmospheric pressure (1013 mbar), are separated off from benzene and nitrobenzene so as to give a mixture of benzene and nitrobenzene which f) is recirculated to step b). a) nitration of benzene by means of nitric acid or mixtures of nitric acid and sulphuric acid and subsequent phase separation into an aqueous phase and crude nitrobenzene, b) washing of the crude nitrobenzene from step a) with aqueous washing liquid in at least three washing steps and in each case subsequent removal of the washing liquid, with a prepurified nitrobenzene containing nitrobenzene together with at least benzene and water being obtained after the washing liquid used in the last washing step has been separated off, c) distillation of benzene and water from the prepurified nitrobenzene from step b) in a distillation apparatus, giving purified nitrobenzene, characterized in that d) gas streams comprising benzene and nitrobenzene which are obtained in steps a) to c) are scrubbed in counter current in an absorption column by means of nitrobenzene which has a benzene content of < 50 ppm, based on the total mass of the nitrobenzene, and is distributed by means of a liquid distributor having 50 to 200 dropping points per square meter, giving (i) a liquid stream comprising benzene and nitrobenzene and (ii) offgas depleted in benzene; where the liquid stream comprising benzene and nitrobenzene which is obtained in step d) e) is distilled to isolate a mixture of benzene and nitrobenzene, with this distillation being operated so that organic low boilers, namely compounds and azeotropically boiling mixtures of compounds whose boiling points are below that of benzene at atmospheric pressure (1013 mbar), are separated off from benzene and nitrobenzene so as to give a mixture of benzene and nitrobenzene which f) is recirculated to step b).